INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS

In the contemporary world, where both local and large-scale armed conflicts continue to affect various regions, the question of accountability for war crimes remains highly pressing. War can never be justified, as it is inherently accompanied by brutality and violence. Nevertheless, even during hostilities, parties to a conflict are obligated to adhere to the norms of international law to minimize unnecessary casualties and destruction. International humanitarian law distinctly categorizes conflict participants into two groups: combatants and civilians. This distinction is essential for determining who is directly engaged in hostilities and who requires special protection. This article places particular emphasis on the analysis of legal instruments that define the status of both direct participants in armed conflicts and civilians. For a thorough examination of the issue, the study refers to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols. Special attention is given to Additional Protocol I, which elaborates on the principal provisions of the Geneva Conventions concerning the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. These instruments regulate the rights of combatants and civilians while also addressing the status of medical personnel and clergy during armed conflicts. Furthermore, the study considers both international and non-international armed conflicts.

1. M.K. Gandhi. Non-violence [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/gstruggle.php#:~:text=Nonviolence%20is%20the%20law%20of,the%20strength%20of%20the%20spirit (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

2. King Jr., M.L. Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam / M.L. King Jr. – New York City, 1967 [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://www.crmvet.org/docs/mlkviet2.htm#:~:text=I%20speak%20out%20against%20this,racism%2C%20extreme%20materialism%20and%20militarism (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

3. O. Simic. “Celebrating” Srebrenica Genocide: Impunity and Indoctrination as Contributing Factors to the Glorification of Mass Atrocities [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14623528.2024.2308326?needAccess=true (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

4. M. Sassoli. International Law Studies [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://digitalcommons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1281&context=ils (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

5. Paenson, I. Manual of the terminology of the law of armed conflicts / I. Paenson. – Brussels, 1989. – 179 р.

6. Arcibasov, I.N. Mezhdunarodnoe pravo (zakony i obychai vojny) / I.N. Arcibasov. – M., 1975. – 245 s.

7. Batyr', V.M. Mezhdunarodnoe gumanitarnoe pravo: uchebnik / V.M. Batyr'. – M., 2011. – 381 s.

8. Lisovskij, V.I. Mezhdunarodnoe pravo / V.I. Lisovskij. – M., 1970. – 400 s.

9. I. Blazhevich. Nagorno-Karabakh – a conflict lasting for more than three decades [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/390780 (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

10. K. Watkin. Warriors Without Rights? Combatants, Unprivileged Belligerents, and the Struggle Over Legitimacy [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://www.hpcrresearch.org/sites/default/files/publications/OccasionalPaper2.pdf (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

11. B. Tahir. Lack of combatant status in non-international armed conflicts [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://www.dlpforum.org/2023/11/29/the-lack-of-combatant-status-in-noninternational-armed-conflicts/ (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).

12. A. Mir. Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Future of U.S. Counterterrorism in Afghanistan [Jelektrondyқ resurs] – Ajnalys rezhimі: https://extremism.gwu.edu/al-qaeda-the-taliban-and-future-ofus-counterterrorism (zhүgіngen kүnі: 19.05.2025).