Keywords
International Human Rights Law
humanitarian missions
legal missions
armed conflict
civilian protection
emergency regimes
state obligations
regulatory integration
Subbotina Integrated Regulatory Model
How to Cite
Abstract
While there is wide recognition of the two bodies of law being simultaneously applicable during armed conflict (International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law), the domestic implementation of these bodies of law has been inconsistent, especially when armed conflict occurs in states where emergency or martial laws exist. This paper will examine the international legal regulation of humanitarian and legal missions through the lens of the relationship between International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law and assess how current national regulatory methods support the legal and practical realization of both bodies of law. The research for this paper draws from an examination of doctrinal analysis, international and regional case law, and recent scholarly literature; the research finds that despite significant normative consensus at the international level regarding the relationship of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, there is a persistent divergence at the national (domestic) level in terms of how these norms are implemented into practice. The article further posits that this divergence creates an obstacle to civilian protection, limits humanitarian access, and diminishes accountability mechanisms. To address this issue, the article introduces the Subbotina Integrated Regulatory Model, which is an innovative model created by the author to develop the integration of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law within national legal frameworks. The Subbotina Integrated Regulatory Model includes four key principles: concurrent applicability, functional protection of missions, positive state obligations, and judicial oversight; each of these principles addresses a key area in ensuring that national legal frameworks can effectively regulate humanitarian and legal missions in crises. Through the introduction of the Subbotina Integrated Regulatory Model, the article provides a structured and practical approach to implementing International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law nationally, intending to develop more consistent and effective national legal frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian and legal missions in crises.
References
1. Alfirjane, O. S. M. (2025). The role of international humanitarian law in protecting civilians during armed conflicts. Al-haq Journal for Sharia and Legal Sciences, 12(2), 296–311. https://doi.org/10.58916/alhaq.v12i2.357
2. Arévalo-Ramírez, W. (2022). The International Court of Justice and the international humanitarian law rules for armed conflicts. Revista Científica General José María Córdova, 20(38), 425–442. https://dx.doi.org/10.21830/19006586.912
3. Ashri, M. (2019). Reconciliation of humanitarian law and human rights law in armed conflict. Hasanuddin Law Review, 5(2), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v5i2.1348
4. Boland, S. T., Nylen, A., Bates, M., Alejandria, M. C., Grace, R., Tayyeb, Z., & Levine, A. C. (2024). Armed actor interventions in humanitarian and public health crises: examining perspectives of crisis-affected community members. Conflict and Health, 18(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00593-6
5. Bosch, S. J., & Kimble, M. (2026). State responsibility for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by private security companies in Africa: The case of the Wagner Group and Africa Corps. Journal of African Law, 70(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002185532510079X
6. Droege, C. (2024). International humanitarian law and peace: A brief overview. International Review of the Red Cross, 106(927), 989–1001. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1816383125000062
7. European Court of Human Rights. (1950). European Convention on Human Rights. https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention
8. Gunawan, Y., Gultom, Q. Z., Amarulia, S., & Arumbinang, M. H. (2023). Russian-Ukrainian Conflict: International Humanitarian Law and Civilian Settlements. Substantive Justice International Journal of Law, 6(2), 108–117. http://dx.doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v6i2.253
9. International Committee of the Red Cross. (n.d.). The Geneva Conventions and their Commentaries. https://www.icrc.org/en/law-and-policy/geneva-conventions-and-their-commentaries
10. Khoirunisa, K., Matthew, B., Jubaidi, D., & Nugroho, A. Y. (2025). The Ukraine-Russia conflict: An international humanitarian law review of the involvement of foreign fighters. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, (11), 101340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101340
11. Khoirunisa, M. (2025). Implications of international law on attacks against humanitarian missions to Gaza. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 8(9), 6866–6873. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v8-i9-18
12. Lavasani, S. S. M. (2025). Transformation on the Battlefield: The Impact of Digital Technologies on International Humanitarian Law. Legal Studies in Digital Age, 4(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.lsda.177
13. Lăzău-Păcuraru, A. (2025). International humanitarian law in the context of current conflicts: Special protection areas. International Journal of Legal and Social Order, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.55516/ijlso.v5i1.239
14. Lysyk, V., & Shperun, K. (2024). UN Practice in Protecting Human Rights During Armed Conflicts. European political and law discourse, 11(4), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2024.11.4.2
15. Mahmutović, A. (2025). How Humanitarian and Human Rights Law Shape Conflicts Within States. Bratislava Law Review, 9(1), 27–50. https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2025.9.1.945
16. Martsenko, N., & Hrushko, M. (2021). Humanitarian Access during Armed Conflicts. University Scientific Notes, 6 (84), 72–83. https://doi.org/10.37491/UNZ.84.9
17. Oliinyk, O. (2025). Protection of Human Rights During Armed Conflicts: Challenges and Opportunities for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law. Veritas: Legal and Psychological-Pedagogical Research, 1(1), 51–58. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23939/veritas2025.01.051
18. Orzhynska, E., Frolov, M., Haidak, O., Каmardina Y., & Kochyn, V. (2024). International Humanitarian Law and the Waging of War in Ukraine: Integrative Review. Futurity Economics & Law, 4(4). 259–276. https://doi.org/10.57125/FEL.2024.12.25.15
19. Petroniuk, K. (2023). Philosophy of correlation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Visegrad Journal on Human Rights, (3), 91–95. https://doi.org/10.61345/1339-7915.2023.3.13
20. Puspoayu, E. S., Widagdo, S., Kusumaningrum, A., & Kurniaty, R. (2025). Crisis of Sovereignty: Legal Challenges in Delivering Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict Zone. Jurnal Suara Hukum, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.26740/jsh.v7n1.p1-22
21. Syadristaya, I., Yamnenko, T., Kuzmenko, S., Kobzar, O., & Nestor, N. V. (2024). Administrative and legal regulation of humanitarian aid under martial law. Archives des Sciences, 74(2), 104–109. https://doi.org/10.62227/as/74215
22. Taran, O., & Hryha, M. (2024). Application of international humanitarian law by the European Court of Human Rights. Scientific Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, 2(29), 9–17. https://doi.org/10.56215/naia-herald/2.2024.09
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Anastasiia Subbota