Public Law Studies Quarterly

International Humanitarian Law Challenges in the Protection of the Marine Environment

Document Type : Article

Authors

Fatemeh Hosseinpour khoshghalb 1
Fatemeh Keyhanlou 2

1 Ph.D. Student in International Law, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran

2 Assistant Prof. Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran ‎

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2021.327124.2830
Abstract
In recent decades, various armed conflicts have created threats to the marine environment. The Gulf War of 1990-91, the Israeli attacks on The Jiyeh Power Station in 2006, and the massive oil spill in the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea have all caused serious damage to the marine environment. The need to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment as a result of armed conflict is an important task for international humanitarian law. The purpose of this study is to explain the challenges faced by international humanitarian law in the protection of the marine environment. The findings of the paper show that international humanitarian law faces significant normative gaps in this field that seriously affect its ability to protect the marine environment. The appropriate responses to maritime environmental challenges during armed conflict include: adoption of precautionary measures, applying the Martens clause, updating pertinent provisions, explaining the scope of existing norms and conclusion of new provisions governing armed conflicts as regards maritime environmental protection.

Keywords

international humanitarian law
marine environment
armed conflict
marine pollution
Subjects

  1. English

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    1. C) Other Documents
    2. Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977.
    3. Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land. The Hague, 18 October 1907.
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    References in Persian:

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    1. A) Article
    2. Zarneshan, S. (2018). The Relationship of "Martens Clause" & Human Rights in the Contemporary International Legal System. Public Law Studies Quarterly. journal published by University of Tehran, 48(2), 319-338 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 53, Issue 3 - Serial Number 35
Autumn 2023
Autumn 2023
Pages 1465-1489

  • Receive Date 08 August 2021
  • Revise Date 03 October 2021
  • Accept Date 19 December 2021

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