Detention In Non International Armed Conflict

International law has long differentiated between international and non-international armed conflicts, traditionally regulating the former far more comprehensively than the latter. This is particularly stark in the case of detention, where the law of non-international armed conflict contains no rules on who may be detained, what processes must be provided to review their detention, and when they must be released. Given that non-international armed conflicts are now the most common form of conflict, this is especially worrying, and the consequences of this have been seen in the detention practices of states such as the US and UK in Iraq and Afghanistan. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the procedural rules that apply to detention in non-international armed conflict, with the focus on preventive security detention, or 'internment'. All relevant areas of international law, most notably international humanitarian law and international human rights law, are analysed in detail and the interaction between them explored. The book gives an original account of the relationship between the relevant rules of IHL and IHRL, which is firmly grounded in general international law scholarship, treating the issue as a matter of treaty interpretation. With that in mind, and with reference to State practice in specific non-international armed conflicts - including those in Sri Lanka, Colombia, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Iraq - it is demonstrated that the customary and treaty obligations of States under human rights law continue, absent derogation, to apply to detention in non-international armed conflicts. The practical operation of those rules is then explored in detail. The volume ends with a set of concrete proposals for developing the law in this area, in a manner that builds upon, rather than replaces, the existing obligations of States and non-State armed groups.

International law has long differentiated between international and non-international armed conflicts, traditionally regulating the former far more comprehensively than the latter. This is particularly stark in the case of detention, where the treaty law of non-international armed conflict contains no rules on who may be detained, what processes must be provided to review their detention, and when they must be released. Given that non-international armed conflicts are now the most common form of conflict, this is especially worrying, and the consequences of this have been seen in the detention practices of states such as the US and UK in Iraq and Afghanistan. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the procedural rules that apply to detention in non-international armed conflict, focusing on preventive, security detention, or 'internment'. All relevant areas of international law, notably international humanitarian law (IHL), human rights law (IHRL), and international criminal law, are analysed in detail with reference to case law. It is shown that, contrary to conventional wisdom, IHL is not entirely silent here, but rather contains a general prohibition of internment that is not necessary as a result of the conflict. The book then gives an original account of the relationship between IHL and IHRL, which helps to move beyond the intractable debates that dominate the literature in this area. Applying this account, and referring to state practice in specific non-international conflicts, it is demonstrated that treaty and customary-based IHRL continues, absent derogation, to regulate detention in non-international conflicts. Importantly, the under-explored question of the practical application of these rules in such situations is then explored in detail, which should guide states, courts, and others in this area. The book concludes with a set of concrete proposals for developing the law, in a manner that builds upon the existing obligations of states and non-state armed groups--Book jacket.

Explores how international law deals with detention conducted by non-State armed groups and the motivations behind these practices.

International humanitarian law protects against unlawful confinement only in international armed conflict. And yet most of unlawful detentions arise as governments and armed groups resort to violence in over 65% of armed conflicts today that are not of an international character. Where do we draw the line and how can international law better serve our right to liberty in contemporary armed conflicts? A captivating and brutally honest book that sheds the light on the plight of millions across nations.

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