Protecting health-care workers, facilities and vehicles lies at the heart of international humanitarian law (IHL) and is central to its origins. Despite sustained collective efforts, medical personnel and assets continue to face violence and attacks. Health Care in Danger (HCiD), an initiative led by the International Committee of the Red Cross, aims to address this very issue by engaging widely with weapon bearers, policymakers, health-care workers and the general public. This guidance document is the result of focused engagement with armed forces and military experts, which was carried out as part of a HCiD study, supported by the Government of Sweden, on the protection of health care by state armed forces. It sets out concrete, practical ways that armed forces can better protect medical workers and equipment, and safeguard access to care, in armed conflict - provided they are willing to carry out the meticulous work of reviewing their doctrine and practice.
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