Global Conflict: Language Glossary
The choice of language and its careful use are essential, especially in times of conflict when emotions run high. We understand that language can sometimes be misused in ways that are unhelpful or even harmful. We also recognise how important it is to use the right language when it matters most.
Below, you'll find a glossary of terms used throughout the Global Conflict Resources pages.
Armed conflict
An armed conflict is said to exist when there is an armed confrontation between the armed forces of States (international armed conflict), or between governmental authorities and organised armed groups or between such groups within a State (non-international armed conflict). Other situations of violence, such as internal disturbances and tensions are not considered to be armed conflicts. -International Committee of the Red Cross – ICRC
International Armed Conflict (IAC)
International armed conflict covers all cases of declared war and other de facto armed conflict between two or more States, even if the state of war is not recognised by one of them and/or the use of armed force is unilateral. - United Nations Definition
Non-International Armed Conflict (NIAC)
Non-international armed conflict is defined as protracted armed confrontations occurring between governmental armed forces and the forces of one or more armed groups, or between such groups arising on the territory of a State. The armed confrontation must reach a minimum level of intensity, and the parties involved in the conflict must show a minimum of organisation. - United Nations Definition
Armistice
A military agreement that puts an end to ongoing hostilities. There are two types of armistice: general (which halts all military operations) and local (which stops operations in a specific area). If the armistice's duration is not specified, belligerent parties may resume operations at any time, subject to prior notice and in compliance with the terms of the armistice. The state of war continues, with all of its legal ramifications, even after an armistice ends. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Apartheid
An Afrikaans word that means ‘apartness’; it is the name given to the system of racial discrimination which enabled a white minority in South Africa to rule over the non-white majority. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Ceasefire
A suspension of fighting decided by the conflict parties, usually as part of a political process. It often encompasses the whole geographic region affected by the conflict and is intended to be long-term. Usually, the goal is to facilitate communication between the parties, with the ultimate goal of reaching a long-term political agreement. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Cessation of hostilities (or 'truce')
The suspension of active hostilities, designed to give conflict parties permission to pause fighting for a variety of reasons, such as to engage in political discourse and work towards a long-term truce. The ICRC uses the term 'truce' interchangeably with 'suspension of hostilities' - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Civil Unrest
‘Civil unrest’ is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of phenomena, and although there is no commonly agreed United Nations definition the term is used widely among United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, particularly to describe violent and non-violent group acts. - United Nations Definition
Colonialism
Colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or people.” It occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population and exploiting it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon its people. - National Geographic Definition
Conflict prevention
Conflict prevention involves diplomatic measures to keep intra-state or inter-state tensions and disputes from escalating into violent conflict. It includes early warning, information gathering and a careful analysis of the factors driving the conflict. - United Nations Definition
Crime of Aggression
In international law, ‘aggression’ is defined as the use of force by one State against another in violation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
States are currently working on criminalising similar acts committed by individuals and coming to an agreement on the definition of a ‘crime of aggression’ in this respect. When an agreement is reached, the International Criminal Court will have jurisdiction over this crime in addition to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Crimes Against Humanity
As defined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the term refers to certain acts “committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.” The criminalised acts include murder, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, torture, various acts of grave sexual violence, persecution of any identifiable group or collection of individuals, enforced disappearance, and apartheid.
Crimes against humanity are considered to be crimes under international law whether they take place in times of peace or during war. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Customary international humanitarian law
General practice accepted as international law; this practice is evident, for instance, in official statements made by states, national laws, and case law. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
De-confliction arrangements
The sharing of logistical data to arrange the timing and locations of relief operations between parties involved in the conflict and humanitarian actors. These agreements guarantee that military operations do not put beneficiaries in danger, obstruct the delivery of relief supplies or the execution of humanitarian operations, or jeopardise the lives of humanitarian actors. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Geneva Conventions
Four treaties adopted in Geneva in 1949 that are the cornerstone of contemporary international humanitarian law and are universally accepted. Every state in the world had acceded to the conventions as of 2006. The four Geneva Conventions protect different groups of people during armed conflict: sick and wounded military personnel in the field; sick and wounded military personnel at sea; prisoners of war; and civilian populations. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Genocide
A term originating from the Greek word genos, meaning race or tribe, and the Latin word for killing, cidium; the provisions of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court define genocide as those acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”
The criminalised acts include killing of or causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of one of these groups, deliberately imposing on the group conditions of life aimed at its physical destruction, and forcibly transferring children in the group to another group. Genocide is considered to be a crime under international law whether it is carried out in times of peace or during war. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Humanitarian corridor
Specific routes and logistical methods decided upon by all relevant parties to permit the safe movement of civilians and/or supplies between locations during hostilities. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Humanitarian pause
A temporary cessation of hostilities purely for humanitarian purposes. It usually requires the consent of all relevant parties and is intended to allow humanitarian activities within a designated geographic area and timeframe. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
International humanitarian law
A body of international law comprised of treaties and customary laws that aims to protect those who are not, or who are no longer, engaged in hostilities. It seeks to restrict the methods and means that may be used in warfare and otherwise lessen the suffering that results from armed conflict. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
International human rights law.
A body of laws established by custom and treaty with the aim of shielding people's lives and human dignity from the capricious actions of governments. Everybody is subject to human rights law at all times. - European Parliament, 2023 definition
Occupation
The exercise of effective control by hostile foreign armed forces over a certain territory, regardless of the absence of armed resistance and of fighting. International Human Law provides a range of rules to ensure that the occupying power respects and protects the population and property within the occupied territory. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Peacemaking
Peacemaking generally includes measures to address conflicts in progress and usually involves diplomatic action to bring hostile parties to a negotiated agreement. - United Nations Definition
Peace enforcement
Peace enforcement involves the application of a range of coercive measures, including the use of military force. It requires the explicit authorisation of the Security Council. - United Nations Definition
Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding aims to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict management, and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development. It is a complex, long-term process of creating the necessary conditions for sustainable peace. Peacebuilding measures address core issues that effect the functioning of society and the State, and seek to enhance the capacity of the State to effectively and legitimately carry out its core functions. - United Nations Definition
Persecution
The persistent mistreatment of an individual or group by another group; the most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, racial persecution and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Racial Segregation
The practice of restricting people to certain limited areas of residence or to separate institutions (e.g. schools, churches) and facilities (e.g. parks, playgrounds, restaurants) on the basis of their racial origins or of their alleged racial origins. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition
Settler Colonialism
The concept of settler colonialism can be defined as a system of oppression based on genocide and colonialism, that aims to displace a population of a nation (oftentimes indigenous people) and replace it with a new settler population. - The Legal Information Institute definition
War Crime
The term encompasses grave breaches of International Human Law and other serious violations of International Human Law committed in both international and non-international armed conflicts.
War crimes include deliberate attacks against civilians, pillage, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy and the use of children under the age of 15 for active participation in hostilities. - International Committee of The Red Cross definition