Introduction International Humanitarian Law and the Changing Technology of War

Abstract

This is the introductory chapter of International Humanitarian Law and the Changing Technology of War , which explores the legal challenges for armed forces resulting from the development and use of new military technologies for the conduct of warfare. Th e application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is an attempt to achieve an equitable balance between humanitarian requirements and the necessities of war. The chapter discusses the appropriate standards and test for the formation of new customary international law as the methods of warfare, and matters of 'State practice', evolve so dramatically, at least for those States and non-State actors that can access the new technologies. The book explores the development of autonomous Unmanned Systems (UMS), their implications for IHL, and outlines the approach taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with respect to any new weapon introduced by the military. Keywords:autonomous Unmanned Systems (UMS); cyber warfare; ICRC; international humanitarian law (IHL); military technologies