Source: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/rus/docs/v2_cou_ch_rule1
Timestamp: 2020-07-14 13:51:41
Document Index: 286481072

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 158', '§ 159', '§ 153', '§ 159', '§ 184', '§ 172', '§ 159']

Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) states: “The Parties to the conflict must at all times make a distinction between the civilian population and combatant troops.”
Switzerland, Lois et coutumes de la guerre (Extrait et commentaire), Règlement 51.7/II f, Armée Suisse, 1987, Article 25(1).
12 The four basic principles of the international law of armed conflict
12.1 The principle of distinction
159 Hostilities must be directed exclusively against combatants and military objectives. Respect for this rule is only possible if combatants and military objectives can be distinguished from protected persons and objects. Such means include wearing a uniform or at least openly bearing weapons while engaged in an attack.
Switzerland, Bases légales du comportement à l’engagement (BCE), Règlement 51.007/IVf, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance on the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, §§ 158–159. In the second sentence of § 159, the German language version notes: “Respect for this rule is only possible if combatants and military objectives can be distinguished or, respectively, are locally separated [“unterscheidbar bzw. örtlich getrennt”] from protected persons and objects.”
In 2009, in its Strategy on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 2009–2012, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs stated: “The fundamental principle of distinction between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives is often challenged with severe impact for the civilian populations.”
Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Strategy of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs 2009–2012, p. 3.
Not all Means and methods of warfare are allowed in an Armed conflict. International humanitarian law stipulates the military operations, tactics and weapons that are permissible. The two generally accepted principles of Distinction and Proportionality are the basis for a number of specific rules such as the prohibition of direct attacks on the civilian population or on Civilian objects, the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks and the obligation to adopt precautionary measures (Precaution) so as to avoid or limit casualties among Civilians and damage to civilian objects to the greatest possible extent.
International humanitarian law protects the civilian population and prohibits attacks against Civilians and Civilian objects. One of its ground rules is the principle of distinction: the parties to a conflict are obliged to conduct military operations exclusively against Military objectives and must therefore always distinguish between Civilians and Combatants as well as between Civilian objects and Military objectives. The principle of distinction imposes limits on means and methods of warfare: any Weapon or strategy that cannot be directed exclusively at a specific military objective is prohibited.
Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, ABC of International Humanitarian Law, 2009, pp. 13–14 and 17.
In 2009, in a statement during a UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the permanent representative of Switzerland stated:
The current situation in Gaza cries out to us the importance of the issue we are discussing today. The main victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are civilians. Switzerland is deeply shocked by the very high number of civilians that have been killed or wounded in this conflict, and in particular the high number of child victims. …
Switzerland therefore reiterates its call for … strict compliance with international law by all parties to the conflict. This includes in particular the obligation to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.
Switzerland, Statement by the permanent representative of Switzerland before the UN Security Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, 14 January 2009, p. 5.
Switzerland appreciates the willingness expressed by the United States to take all feasible precautions to protect the civilian population and individual civilians not directly participating in hostilities. Switzerland considers that these measures are in keeping with the fundamental principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, a principle that is enshrined, in particular, in articles 57 (2) (ii) and 57 (4) of the first 1977 Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. …
Nonetheless, Switzerland considers that the reservation made by the United States is incompatible with the object and purpose of Protocol III, and therefore it objects to the reservation for the following reasons: …
3.2 Increasing technification of war
… The weapon technologies used do not call into question the applicable principles of international humanitarian law. In fact, the use of weapons by parties to a conflict must respect the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians; the latter must be protected and in no case made the object of attacks. … These fundamental principles are always applicable to all types and systems of weapons. …
The appearance of non-State actors technically inferior to their government adversaries has favoured the growth of guerrilla tactics. …With this in mind, the civilian population is of a twofold interest in the eyes [of the weaker of the adversaries], on one hand as a place of retreat and combat base, on the other hand as a target of attacks.
In summary, it can be said that almost all the scenarios of guerrilla tactics violate the obligation of distinction. …
3.5 Moving of zones of combat towards the civilian population
There is no doubt that persons not involved in the war were already in the past victims of the suffering and horrors linked to conflicts, but the progressive merging of civilian and military spaces hampers the principle of distinction even more. …
4 Possibilities of international humanitarian law development
As the preceding analysis underlines, international humanitarian law maintains its relevance for most of the aspects of current armed conflicts. The fundamental principles such as distinction and proportionality remain valid in guerrilla wars, which represent today the main form of conducting war. These principles represent a permanent requirement that cannot be called into question, not even by notorious non-respect by the parties to a conflict.
Switzerland, Federal Council, Report on IHL and Current Armed Conflicts, 17 September 2010, Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and 4, pp. 9, 11–12, 16 and 18–19.
7. [Switzerland] recalls that in the conduct of military operations, all feasible precautions must be taken with a view to avoid incidental loss of civilian life[,] injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects and collateral damage to civilian property. All parties are subject to the obligation to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.
In 2013, in answer to an interpellation in Parliament regarding the use of drones, Switzerland’s Federal Council stated:
In armed conflicts, strikes carried out with armed drones must respect the rules of the conduct of hostilities as stipulated by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and must therefore not be directed against civilians or civilian objects. For each strike, it is thus necessary to verify that these principles were respected.
Switzerland, Answer by the Federal Council to interpellation 13.3245 in Parliament regarding the use of drones, 29 May 2013.
In 2013, in a statement at the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the permanent representative of Switzerland stated:
The community of States cannot remain indifferent to the human suffering caused by armed conflicts. It was in direct response to this fundamental concern that the CCW [1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons] and its protocols were adopted, with a view to prohibiting or limiting the use of certain specific types of weapons known to inflict superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, or to strike indiscriminately.
Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) states that only military objectives may be attacked, including enemy armed forces.
Switzerland’s Aide-Memoire on the Ten Basic Rules of the Law of Armed Conflict (2005) states: “I exclusively engage combatants”.
Switzerland, The Ten Basic Rules of the Law of Armed Conflict, Aide-memoire 51.007/IIIe, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance for Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports dated 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, Rule 1.
153 All harmful acts perpetrated against the adversary, in particular the killing of enemy units or combatants during hostilities, constitute neither an offence under international law nor a violation of national law (see para. 234 et seq.).
159 Hostilities must be directed exclusively against combatants and military objectives. …
1 Combatants are members of the armed forces of a party to the conflict, with the exception of medical and religious personnel. In war, they may engage in harmful acts as long as they comply with the rules of the law of armed conflict. Any persons who engage in harmful acts or openly bear weapons may also be fought against.
Switzerland, Bases légales du comportement à l’engagement (BCE), Règlement 51.007/IVf, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance on the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, §§ 153 and 159. In the first sentence of § 159(1), the German language version notes: “Combatants are members of organized [“organisierten”] armed forces, with the exception of medical and religious personnel”.
The Regulation also explains that, in application of the principle of distinction, a wounded combatant who continues to shoot can be shot at because “he remains a combatant until he lays down his weapons”.
The Regulation further states: “Airborne troops – descending by parachute individually or in formation – are considered combatants. They can therefore be attacked even when they are still in the air.”
Switzerland, Bases légales du comportement à l’engagement (BCE), Règlement 51.007/IVf, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance on the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, § 184; see also § 172.
Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) considers: “The [civilian] population as well as individual civilians must not be attacked”.
Switzerland, Lois et coutumes de la guerre (Extrait et commentaire), Règlement 51.7/II f, Armée Suisse, 1987, Article 25(2); see also Article 27(1).
The manual further states that “attacks against the civilian population or against individual civilians” constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and of the 1977 Additional Protocol I.
Switzerland, Lois et coutumes de la guerre (Extrait et commentaire), Règlement 51.7/II f, Armée Suisse, 1987, Article 192(1)(c) (grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions) and Article 193(1)(a) (grave breaches of the 1977 Additional Protocol I).
Switzerland’s Aide-Memoire on the Ten Basic Rules of the Law of Armed Conflict (2005) states: “I spare and protect civilians”.
Switzerland, The Ten Basic Rules of the Law of Armed Conflict, Aide-memoire 51.007/IIIe, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance for the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports dated 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, Rule 6.
3 Protected persons are persons who are not or no longer taking part in combat or enjoy specially protected status, such as medical and religious personnel, civil protection or cultural property protection personnel, as well as wounded persons and prisoners of war.
13.3 Behaviour with regard to civilians
197 Up to 90% of the victims of modern armed conflicts are civilians. Therefore, they are especially protected by the law of armed conflict, as long as they do not participate in combat and are not in the immediate proximity of military objectives. Attacks against the civilian population or their property are prohibited at any time and in any place. Correct behaviour towards the civilian population is important for the success of defence operations.
225 … [A]ttacks directed against protected persons/objects … are prohibited in any place and at any time.
237 The following in particular are criminal offences: … harmful acts against internationally protected persons and objects.
Switzerland, Bases légales du comportement à l’engagement (BCE), Règlement 51.007/IVf, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance on the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, §§ 159, 197, 225 and 237.
The Regulation also explains that, in application of the principle of distinction, a “member of the civilian police armed with a pistol” must not be shot at because “[t]he civilian police are not part of the belligerent forces, as long as they do not take part in the fighting and are not integrated into the armed forces”.
a. the civilian population as such or civilians who do not take direct part in hostilities.
Switzerland, Military Criminal Code, 1927, taking into account amendments entered into force up to 2011, Articles 110 and 112(1)(a).
Switzerland, Penal Code, 1937, taking into account amendments entered into force up to 2011, Articles 264b and 264d (1)(a).
In 2005, in a report in response to a parliamentary postulate on private security and military companies, Switzerland’s Federal Council stated: “International humanitarian law also limits the conduct of military operations permissible under international law. Thus[,] for example, attacks against protected groups and property such as civilians and civilian property are forbidden.”
Switzerland, Report by the Swiss Federal Council on Private Security and Military Companies, 2 December 2005, Section 5.3.1, pp. 45–46 .
The report defined war crimes as “criminal violations of international humanitarian law such as … the killing of unarmed civilians”.
Switzerland, Report by the Swiss Federal Council on Private Security and Military Companies, 2 December 2005, Section 5.5.2.2, p. 49, footnote 112.
1. In its press release of 7 March 2008, the FDFA [Federal Department of Foreign Affairs] condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack against an institute of Talmudic studies in Jerusalem …
2. Attacks directed against civilians … are a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Switzerland’s Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Strategy (2009) states that “the weaker of the adversaries [in an armed conflict] frequently resorts to practices that are prohibited under international law, e.g. deliberate attacks against the civilian population”.
Not all Means and methods of warfare are allowed in an Armed conflict. International humanitarian law stipulates the military operations, tactics and weapons that are permissible. The two generally accepted principles of Distinction and Proportionality are the basis for a number of specific rules such as the prohibition of direct attacks on the civilian population or on Civilian objects, …
International humanitarian law protects the civilian population and prohibits attacks against Civilians and Civilian objects. …
In fact, according to international humanitarian law, acts generally considered as acts of terrorism, such as strikes against the civilian population or Civilian [o]bjects, … are prohibited both in international and non-international armed conflict. …
War crimes are grave breaches of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 protecting persons and objects[,] as well as other serious violations of the laws and customs that apply to an international or non-international Armed conflict. War crimes include notably: … wilful attacks against Civilians and against Civilian objectives[.]
Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, ABC of International Humanitarian Law, 2009, pp. 13–14, 17, 39 and 40. In the French version of this brochure, the sentence “War crimes include notably: … wilful attacks against Civilians and against Civilian objectives” reads “Parmi ces infractions, citons … l’attaque intentionnelle contre des civils ou des biens civils” (see ABC du Droit International Humanitaire, 2014, 2nd revised edition, p. 21).
In 2009, in its Report on Foreign Policy, Switzerland’s Federal Council stated: “Conflicts … have themselves become more complex. … The recourse to acts contrary to international law, such as deliberate attacks against the civilian population … , [is] among the strategies used by the Parties in conflict.”
Switzerland, Federal Council, Report on Foreign Policy 2009, 2 September 2009, Section 3.3.7.2, p. 5807.
In 2010, in its Report on IHL and Current Armed Conflicts, Switzerland’s Federal Council stated that civilians “notably benefit from protection against direct attacks, provided that and as long as they do not take a direct part in hostilitiesˮ.
Switzerland, Federal Council, Report on IHL and Current Armed Conflicts, 17 September 2010, Section 3.1, p. 7.
The appearance of non-State actors technically inferior to their government adversaries has favoured the growth of guerrilla tactics. … With this in mind, the civilian population is of a twofold interest in the eyes [of the weaker of the adversaries], on one hand as a place of retreat and combat base, on the other hand as a target of attacks.
Even if the civilian population provides important support to the insurgents, it is nevertheless made the object of terrorist acts (direct attacks, …) under the guise of punitive actions, intimidation, propaganda or to incite ethnic or religious tensions. …
International humanitarian law in force treats these cases in a relatively complete manner, binding non-State and State actors alike. …
International humanitarian law also clearly prohibits attacks against the civilian population. …
3.4 … and of anti-guerrilla tactics
Military responses to guerrilla tactics must be in conformity with the requirements of international humanitarian law. There is a consensus today that the majority of the provisions of [the 1977] Additional Protocol I apply equally to non-international armed conflicts, through customary law. There too, it is prohibited to attack the civilian population.
Switzerland, Federal Council, Report on IHL and Current Armed Conflicts, 17 September 2010, Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, pp. 9, 11–12 and 13.
In 2010, in its Report on Foreign Policy, Switzerland’s Federal Council stated: “The recourse to acts contrary to international law, such as deliberate attacks against the civilian population … , [is] among the strategies used by the parties to a conflict.”
Switzerland, Federal Council, Report on Foreign Policy 2010, 10 December 2010, Section 4.2.1, p. 1083.
In 2011, in a statement before the UN Security Council during an open debate on children and armed conflict made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict, including Switzerland, the deputy permanent representative of Canada stated:
Members of the Friends Group have reliably called on the [UN] Security Council to strengthen its protection framework even more and consistently called for all six grave violations committed against children in armed conflict to be included amongst the Security Council Resolution 1612 [of 2005] listing criteria. The Friends Group has supported a progressive approach in this regard and therefore commends the Security Council in filling an important gap in the child protection framework by including attacks against schools and hospitals as the latest trigger through the resolution it will adopt today [Resolution 1998(2011)].
Switzerland condemned in the strongest terms the heinous massacre of more than a hundred civilians, including dozens of children, in El-Houleh in the night from 25th to 26th May. The facts and the responsibility for what could constitute a war crime, or perhaps a crime against humanity, have to be more accurately established.
Switzerland, Statement by the representative of Switzerland at the 19th Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council during the debate on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and the recent killings in El-Houleh, 1 June 2012.
International humanitarian law seeks to limit the effects of armed conflicts. It restrains the means and methods of warfare and grants protection to those who do not participate in hostilities. For example, international humanitarian law prohibits deliberate attacks against the civilian population.
In 2013, in a statement during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, the representative of Switzerland stated: “Switzerland condemns in the strongest terms deliberate attacks against the civilian population … Such attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
Switzerland, Statement by the representative of Switzerland during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, 24 October 2013.