The Principle of Proportionality in the Rules Governing the Conduct of Hostilities Under International Humanitarian Law - Expert Meeting Report

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

Report of an International Expert Meeting (Quebec, 22–23 June 2016) addressing the principle of proportionality in the conduct of hostilities under international humanitarian law. The discussion examines how to define relevant military advantage, the role of force protection and protection of civilians considerations, and key challenges in applying the principle. It analyzes categories of incidental harm, including illness and mental harm, harm linked to dual-use objects, economic losses and displacement, and reverberating effects. The report also considers the reasonable military commander assessment of excessiveness.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages86

Reading Time3 h 37 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The principle of proportionality

Challenges in the application of the principle of proportionality

Purpose of the meeting and scope of the discussions

Part I: Military Advantage

Session 1: Defining the relevant advantage for the principle of proportionality

Session 2: Relevance of force protection and protection of civilians considerations

Part II: Incidental Harm

Session 3: Relevant types of incidental harm

Session 4: Reverberating effects

Part III: The Reasonable Military Commander Assessment of Excessiveness

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING 22–23 JUNE 2016 – QUEBEC REPORT THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY IN THE RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF HOSTILITIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW This meeting was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING 22–23 JUNE 2016 – QUEBEC THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY IN THE RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF HOSTILITIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW Report prepared and edited by Laurent Gisel Legal adviser, ICRC TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................... 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 8 The principle of proportionality ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Challenges in the application of the principle of proportionality ............................................................................ 8 Purpose of the meeting and scope of the discussions................................................................................................... 9 The importance of policies for the protection of civilians during armed conflicts .........................................10 Background document, agenda of the meeting and structure of the report ......................................................10 PART I: MILITARY ADVANTAGE ......................................................................................................11 Session 1: Defining the relevant advantage for the principle of proportionality: concrete, direct and military ..................................................................................................11 a) Background information ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 b) Experts’ comments and discussion ................................................................................................................................ 15 Session 2: Relevance of force protection and protection of civilians considerations for the principle of proportionality........................................................................................ 23 a) Background information .................................................................................................................................................... 23 b) Experts’ comments and discussion ............................................................................................................................... 25 PART II: INCIDENTAL HARM.......................................................................................................... 32 Session 3: Relevant types of incidental harm ......................................................................................... 32 Background information ......................................................................................................................................................... 32 A. Illness and mental harm.................................................................................................................... 33 a) Background information .....................................................................................................................................................33 b) Experts’ comments and discussion ............................................................................................................................... 35 B. Harm to civilian use of ‘dual-use objects’ ...............

FAQs

What does the report cover regarding the principle of proportionality?

It addresses the principle of proportionality in the rules governing the conduct of hostilities under international humanitarian law, including how the principle should be understood and applied. It also highlights challenges in implementation and the meeting’s scope.

How does the report define and evaluate military advantage?

It focuses on defining the relevant advantage for proportionality as concrete, direct, and military. It also considers expert comments and discussion on how that advantage is assessed in practice.

What types of incidental harm are examined?

The report examines several categories, including illness and mental harm, harm to civilian use of dual-use objects, economic losses and displacement, and reverberating effects. Each category includes background information and expert discussion.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Finn