Introduction

This quote may seem at first to be somewhat out of place in a chapter dealing with UN peacekeeping and related military activity. Yet recent UN operations have had more in common with the operation conducted in Korea, or the enforcement measures carried out in the Congo during the 1960s, than with the more traditional peacekeeping prevalent during the 1970s and 1980s. When one looks at the actual combat engaged in by the United States Rangers in Mogadishu during their attempt to capture one of the leading warlords, General Aideed, or the coalition forces during the Gulf wars of 1991 and 2003, then Dunant's scenario may not be so far from the reality for the soldiers involved at first hand.

This chapter examines the applicability and relevance of international humanitarian law (humanitarian law) and international human rights law to all types of military action undertaken by or on behalf of the UN. Owing to the controversy surrounding action by UNOSOM forces in Somalia, the question of respect for the principles of humanitarian law by UN forces has been the subject of controversy and debate.