Worth reading those 13 pages; here the abstract:
Key terms in international humanitarian law [1][2]: this short glossary will familiarise you with humanitarian law, and show you its urgent necessity and burning realities.
Humanitarian law is a branch of international law. It is primarily concerned with the protection of the individual and is specially intended to be applied in times of armed conflict. Inspired by a sense of shared humanity, it constitutes a final rampart against horror and cruelty in situations of conflict, which, despite all possible efforts, cannot be prevented or ended. Humanitarian law seeks to limit the effects of armed conflicts, not only for wounded, detained, or sick combatants, but also for the civilian populations of States involved in such conflicts.
Switzerland has been and continues to be a driving force in the development, implementation, and monitoring of humanitarian law.
[1] http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home/publi/intlaw.html
[2] http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home/publi/intlaw.Par.0003.UpFile.pdf/br_030408_HumIntLaw_e.pdf
