Refuge from Inhumanity? War Refugees and International Humanitarian Law

This book contributes to a long-standing but ever topical debate about whether persons fleeing war to seek asylum in another country - 'war refugees' - are protected by international law. It seeks to add to this debate by bringing together a detailed set of analyses examining the extent to which the application of international humanitarian law (IHL) may usefully advance the legal protection of such persons. This generates a range of questions about the respective protection frameworks established under international refugee law (IRL) and IHL and, specifically, the potential for interaction between them. As the first collection to deal with the subject, the eighteen chapters that make up this unique volume supply a range of perspectives on how the relationship between these two separate fields of law may be articulated and whether IHL may contribute to providing refuge from the inhumanity of war.

Review:

Over time, the conduct of hostilities, together with the protection of refugees, have undergone major changes. The assessment whether individuals can be defined as refugees within the meaning of the Refugee Convention has progressed with the support of modern technology. However, the definition of terms, such as armed conflict, civilian and combatant continues to muddy waters in this area. This collection of essays provides clarity on these interpretive issues and suggests approaches for overcoming the challenges that humanitarian law poses for refugee law. This book will be useful not only for academics, but also for legal practitioners and students, who are invited to reflect on the complex nexus between refugee law and humanitarian law. Anna Marie Brennan, Journal of International Criminal Justice (2014), Oxford University Press.