AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL REGIME FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS AND CIVILIAN OBJECTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS

ABSTRACT

Conflicts are inevitable in our society today. Modern armed conflicts have civilians as majority of casualties despite of course, the presence of the rules of IHL seeking to protect them from the savages of war. This is because of the changing trend in warfare whereby the theatre of violence is moving closer to the people. Yet they are always the overwhelming majority of victims. Civilians and civilian objects are always vulnerable which this research seeks to address. It also seeks to address the growing trend in armed conflict and the adequacy of the existing laws in the face of the changing trend. This dissertation examines the legal regime that protect civilians and civilian objects during armed conflict with a view to examine the mechanisms established for this purpose. States must make concerted efforts to see that certain situations are considered and incorporated into the rules to strengthen the protection and curtail further gross violations.