INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE: CHALLENGES OF ENFORCEMENT—RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR IN FOCUS

Abstract

The dominant view of scholars around the globe is that although International Humanitarian Law as a branch of international law has gained tremendous advancement since inception, especially within the past eight decades, following the establishment of the UN in 1945, the branch has fallen short in almost equal measure with respect to the enforcement of its rules and principles. This paper attempts an exposition of some core factors fuelling the bane of efficient and effective enforcement of IHL. A key highlight in this regard is the unruly conduct of states and this is expounded within the context of the current Russia-Ukraine War.
Keywords: Challenges, Enforcement, International Humanitarian Law, Russia, Ukraine, Violations.