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VOL. 10, ISSUE 2 (2024)
The rise of cyberwarfare: The applicability of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians and civilian objects
Authors
Chukwudumebi O Joseph-Asoh, Nkechinyere Worluh-Okolie, Jojo Ebibode
Abstract
This Article examines the nature of Cyber warfare
in relation to the existing rules of IHL on the protection of civilians in
armed conflicts, their applicability or otherwise to cyber warfare, the
existing gap in the law, with a view to making recommendations on more
effective ways to protect civilians and civilian objects. In doing this, the
research methodology adopted is the doctrinal approach. Both primary and
secondary sources of information were consulted and utilized in the course of
this work. The primary sources include the third Geneva Convention and their
Additional Protocol I, the UN Charter etc. The secondary sources include
textbooks, journals, articles, newspaper, and online material retrieved from
the ICRC website and other relevant websites. This paper finds that although
International Humanitarian Law provides for rules aimed at the protection of
civilians and civilian objects in armed conflicts, these rules do not
sufficiently afford protection to civilians in Cyber warfare as the complexity
brought about by these new means and methods of warfare were not captured at
the time the rules were made. This work identifies some of the challenges posed
to the protection of civilians in cyber warfare and therefore recommends that
it is essential to recognize the distinct nature of the cyberspace and
establish a legal framework that comprehensively discusses its complexities.
The work concludes that a specific legislation that comprehensively addresses
its intricacies of cyber warfare is a step in the right direction to protecting
civilians and civilian objects.
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Pages:92-97
How to cite this article:
Chukwudumebi O Joseph-Asoh, Nkechinyere Worluh-Okolie, Jojo Ebibode "The rise of cyberwarfare: The applicability of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians and civilian objects". International Journal of Law, Vol 10, Issue 2, 2024, Pages 92-97
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