The Principle of Distinction in International Humanitarian Law
Tuesday 5th December, 2023
In this seminar, Julian A. Hettihewa presented on ‘The Principle of Distinction in International Humanitarian Law’. The seminar was chaired by Dr Carrie McDougall.
According to the principle of distinction, the parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between civilians and combatants. Described as one of the cardinal principles of international humanitarian law, the principle thus requires that civilians are never made objects of attacks. Underneath these seemingly objective and neutral concepts are real human beings. Available data indicates that the vast majority of victims of direct conflict are young men. Against this background, this presentation examined the relevance of the principle of distinction for young people. It suggested that youth as a social category is constructed by international law as dream/nightmare and that this may inform decisions on targeting. The presentation concluded with an invitation to use existing critical approaches to explore further areas of international law with a sensibility for young people and youth.