Jean-Marie Henckaerts is Legal Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva.

Foreword by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger; Foreword Judge Abdul G. Koroma; Foreword Yves Sandoz; Acknowledgements; Introduction; List of abbreviations; Part I. The Principle of Distinction: 1. Distinction between Civilians and Combatants (Rules 1-6); 2. Distinction between Civilian Objects and Military Objectives (Rules 7-10); 3. Indiscriminate attacks (Rules 11-13); 4. Proportionality in attack (Rule 14); 5. Precautions in attack (Rules 15-21); 6. Precautions against the effects of attacks (Rules 22-24); Part II. Specifically Protected Persons and Objects: 7. Medical and religious personnel and objects (Rules 25-30); 8. Humanitarian relief personnel and objects (Rules 31-32); 9. Personnel and objects Involved in a Peacekeeping Mission (Rule 33); 10. Journalists (Rule 34); 11. Protected zones (Rules 35-37); 12. Cultural property (Rules 38-41); 13. Works and Installations Containing Dangerous Forces (Rule 42); 14. The Natural Environment (Rules 43-45); Part III. Specific Methods of Warfare: 15. Denial of quarter (Rules 46-48); 16. Destruction and seizure of property (Rules 49-52); 17. Starvation and access to humanitarian relief (Rules 53-56); 18. Deception (Rules 57-65); 19. Communication with the enemy (Rules 66-69); Part IV. Weapons: 20. General principles on the use of weapons (Rules 70-71); 21. Poison (Rule 72); 22. Nuclear weapons; 23. Biological weapons (Rule 73); 24. Chemical weapons (Rules 74-76); 25. Expanding bullets (Rule 77); 26. Exploding bullets (Rule 78); 27. Weapons primarily Injuring by Non-detectable Fragments (Rule 79); 28. Booby-traps (Rule 80); 29. Landmines (Rules 81-83); 30. Incendiary weapons (Rules 84-85); 31. Blinding laser weapons (Rule 86); Part V. Treatment of Civilians and Persons Hors de Combat: 32. Fundamental guarantees (Rules 87-105); 33. Combatants and prisoner-of-war status (Rules 106-108); 34. The wounded, sick and shipwrecked (Rules 109-111); 35. The dead (Rules 112-116); 36. Missing persons (Rule 117); 37. Persons Deprived of Their Liberty (Rules 118-128); 38. Displacement and Displaced Persons (Rules 129-133); 39. Other Persons afforded specific protection (Rules 134-138); Part VI. Implementation: 40. Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (Rules 139-143); 41. Enforcement of International Humanitarian Law (Rules 144-148); 42. Responsibility and reparation (Rules 149-150); 43. Individual responsibility (Rules 151-155); 44. War crimes (Rules 156-161).