The International Committee of the Red Cross and its Mandate to Protect and Assist: Law and Practice

The purpose of this book is to consider the legality of the changing practice of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It provides extensive legal analysis of the ICRC as an organisation, legal person, and humanitarian actor.

It draws on the law of organisations, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, and other relevant branches of international law in order to critically assess the mandate and practice of the ICRC on the ground. The book also draws on more abstract human-centric concepts, including sovereignty as responsibility and human security in order to assess the development of the concept of humanity for the mandate and practice of the ICRC.

Critically this book uses qualitative interviews with ICRC delegates to test the theoretical and doctrinal conclusions. The book provides a unique insight into the work of the ICRC. It also includes a case study of the work of the ICRC in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ultimately the book concludes that the ICRC is no longer restricted to the provision of humanitarian assistance on the battlefield. It is increasingly drawn into long-term and very complicated conflicts, in which, civilians, soldiers, and non-State actors mingle together. In order to remain useful for the people on the ground the ICRC is progressively developing its mandate.

This book questions whether, on occasion, this could ever threaten its promise to remain neutral, impartial and independent. Finally, however, it should be said that this author finds that the work of the ICRC is unparalleled on the international stage and its humanitarian mandate is a vital component for those embroiled in the undertaking and recovery from conflict.