Home / Evidence to Parliament / Parliamentary Evidence: UK Armed Forces Personnel and the Legal Framework for Future Operations

Parliamentary Evidence: UK Armed Forces Personnel and the Legal Framework for Future Operations

Evidence to House of Commons Defence Select Committee

UK Armed Forces Personnel and the Legal Framework for Future Operations by Julie Lenarz, Daniel Wand, Michelle McKenna

This paper intends to provide Her Majesty’s Government with a comprehensive overview of the rules regulating armed conflict known as International Humanitarian Law. It will highlight the protections that are afforded to UK military personnel operating in conflict situations and the laws that they are required to observe. The second part of the paper will then provide an overview of the International Criminal Law regime and highlight the circumstances in which the actions of service personnel could result in the commission of a criminal offence for which the perpetrator is liable to be prosecuted and explain how such a prosecution could occur. Finally, the paper highlights some of the challenges that modern conflicts have created for the military and issues that will need to be considered when developing a legal framework for future military operations.

Download PDF version or visit the Committee’s website

About HSC Publication

The Human Security Centre produces regular press releases and editorial pieces on foremost international issues