Teaching the Law of Armed Conflict to Armed Forces: Personal Reflections

• Author: David Lloyd Roberts
• Position: Independent consultant and lecturer in the law ofarmed conflict and human rights law, as well as humanitarian security issues
• Pages: 121-134

VI

Teaching the Law of Armed Conflict to

Armed Forces: Personal Reflections

David Lloyd Roberts*

Introduction

TheInternational Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) approach to training

the armed forces in the law of armed conflict, as well as some ofmy personal

approaches, will be addressed under the following subheadings:

•Problems that might be faced by armed forces in teaching and applying the law.

•The need to accept that training must be based on the realities and pressures

of combat.

•The approach to training soldiers, young officers and senior officers.

•Suggested gaps in the teaching of the law.

•Views on whether that training is accepted and implemented in battle.

The ICRC Approach

In terms of dissemination, the ICRC has asupporting role. Its aim is to assist the

military wherever possible in carrying out their responsibilities in relation to train-

ing and teaching the law of armed conflict. Its mandate stems directly from the

*Independent consultant and lecturer in the law of armed conflict and human rights law, as well

as humanitarian security issues. The views expressed in this article are the author's alone unless

reference is made to specific ICRC policy.