Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict

Raises the novel legal question of animals during warfare, highlighting deficiencies in current practice and suggesting new readings and reforms.

Anne Peters (Edited by), Jérôme de Hemptinne (Edited by), Robert Kolb (Edited by)

9781316512043, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 October 2022

376 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.8 cm, 0.78 kg

Animals are the unknown victims of armed conflicts. Wildlife populations usually decline during warfare, with disastrous repercussions on the food chain, on fragile ecosystems and precarious habitats. Belligerents take advantage of the chaos of war for poaching and trafficking of animal products. Livestock, companion, and zoo animals, highly dependent on human care, are direct victims of hostilities. The book is the first legal analysis of these issues. It maps the framework of international humanitarian law, examining which and how the concepts, principles, and rationales can be applied and adapted for a better protection of animals. The contributions inter alia discuss precautions for animal civilians, problems of animal combatants and prisoners, a specific status for veterinarian personnel, the recognition of biodiversity hotspots as specially protected zones, and the potential of enforcement mechanisms. The concluding chapter draws together novel interpretations and reform proposals.

Part I. The Need for Protecting Animals in Wartime: 1. Animals in wartime: a legal research agenda Anne Peters and Jérôme de Hemptinne
2. Historical perspectives on animal involvement in wartime Clemens Wischermann
3. Ecological effects of warfare on wildlife Joshua Daskin and Robert Pringle
4. The protection of animals in wartime: rationale and challenges Heike Krieger and José Martinez Soria
Part II. The Protection of Animals in International and Non-International Armed Conflicts: 5. Animals as property and as objects Marco Roscini
6. Animals as specially protected objects Sandra Krähenmann
7. Animals as part of the environment Jérôme de Hemptinne
8. Animals as endangered species Ay?e-Martina Böhringer and Thilo Marauhn
9. Animals as war weapons Chris Jenks
10. Animals as combatants and as prisoners of war? Jérôme de Hemptinne, Tadesse Kebebew and Joshua Joseph Niyo
11. Animals as means of medical transport, search and rescue Jérôme de Hemptinne
12. Veterinary personnel Katharine Fortin
Part III. The Protection of Animals in Specific Situations: 13. Animals in occupied territory Marco Longobardo
14. Animals in protected zones Matthew Gillett
15. Animals in sea warfare Etienne Henry
16. Animals in disaster situations Giulio Bartolini
17. Animals as means of military experimentation Veronika Bílková
Part IV. Enforcement Regimes for the Protection of Animals in Wartime: 18. Repression of International Crimes Manuel Ventura
19. Reparation and rehabilitation Marina Lostal
20. The special regime for wildlife trafficking Karsten Nowrot
21. Enforcement powers of the United Nations Security Council Britta Sjöstedt
Part V. For Better Animal Protection and Enforcement Regimes in Wartime: 22. Towards an effective legal protection of animals in wartime: key findings and concluding recommendations Jérôme de Hemptinne, Anne Peters and Robert Kolb.

Subject Areas: Animal law [LNKG], International humanitarian law [LBBS], International human rights law [LBBR], Armed conflict [JPWS], Human rights [JPVH]