This book deals with the application and implementation of international humanitarian law applied to armed conflicts, as seen from the viewpoint of one particular country: Finland. It provides interesting, new information on the application of humanitarian law in the Finnish civil war (1918) and its aftermath (including Finnish interventions in Eastern Karelia) and in Finland's wars with the Soviet Union (1939-1940) and Germany (1944-1945). The application, implementation and dissemination of humanitarian law in peacetime are also analysed, including the implementation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols of 1977, as well as the role of humanitarian law in Finnish peacekeeeping operations. The book addresses crucial issues concerning the place and role of humanitarian norms and principles in times of armed conflict as well as peace. It will be invaluable to international lawyers, the Red Cross movement, military practitioners and historians.

The Finnish Civil War 1918 and its aftermath; the Second World War; Finnish United Nations forces; the status of humanitarian law conventions in Finland; implementation of international humanitarian law in Finnish law; dissemination of international humanitarian law in Finland; concluding observations.