During conflict, fighters must comply with the "rules of war" as enshrined in international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Conventions in particular. These rules set out the limits that the parties to conflict must abide by to limit the impact of war on civilian populations.
For example, parties to conflict must refrain from attacking civilian populations and objects such as schools or houses. They must also respect all hospital facilities and medical personnel, desist from displacing populations by force, refrain from torturing detainees.
Fighter not Killer quiz
Test your knowledge
of the Rules of War
Can you target a hospital if the enemy is shooting from it? Can you accept youngsters as combatants if you are not sure they are over 18 years old? Can you pretend to surrender as a ruse? Are police forces legitimate targets?
You will find all the answers in this quiz. You will be taken through 28 scenarios covering topics such as tactics of warfare, basic rights, healthcare and aid, weapons or child protection. When you have completed all 6 topics you may move on to the Commander Level with more complex scenarios.
Geneva Call is a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the protection of children in armed conflict and in particular from their use in hostilities. Rather than assisting civilians after they have become victims to conflict, Geneva Call focuses on preventing and intervening before civilians suffer the severe consequences of armed violence.
The majority of today's armed conflicts are not between States. Rather, they involve States fighting against one or more armed groups. Therefore, preventive measures must also focus on these groups.
Geneva Call engages in dialogue with armed groups, it encourages them to comply with these rules by signing humanitarian agreements, it helps them to implement their commitments and it actively and continually monitors these commitments.
Geneva Call focuses on four main thematic areas :