Specially protected persons, objects, and activities (international humanitarian law)

National positions

African Union (2024)

"52. The African Union emphasizes that certain civilians and civilian objects, including the related ICT infrastructure associated with them, enjoy additional specific protection under the relevant rules of IHL. These objects, which are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, include hospitals, medical personnel, and facilities as well as humanitarian relief operations. Such objects must be respected and protected at all times and not be interfered with, attacked, destroyed, removed or rendered useless."

Costa Rica (2023)

"58. IHL affords specific protection to certain persons, objects and activities, such as medical personnel and units; humanitarian personnel and relief objects; and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population."

Sweden (2022)

"Cyber operations in the context of an armed conflict need to comply not only with rules governing the conduct of hostilities; certain persons, objects and activities are subject to special protection, such as medical personnel and units, including their cyber infrastructure, and religious or humanitarian personnel and objects."

Switzerland (2021)

"Full compliance with IHL is not limited to the rules and principles governing the conduct of hostilities. There are other specific rules of IHL that must be respected, including when conducting military operations that do not qualify as an 'attack'. For example, certain categories of persons and objects are subject to special protection, such as medical, religious or humanitarian personnel and objects, which must be respected and protected in all circumstances.

This is also applicable to cyberspace. For cyber operations that are linked to any of these specially protected persons or objects, or to other activities governed by IHL, all of the relevant, specific rules must be observed."