Does International Humanitarian Law Play Any Role in Demilitarized Countries? A Policy Analysis of Costa Rica and Panama

Abstract

This article reviews the role of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in demilitarized countries with a case study of Costa Rica and Panama, two small Central American countries that have constitutionally abolished their armies. The paper addresses the question of whether a country that has not a regular army can in fact be respectful and supportive of the international rules governing armed conflicts. Through a detailed review of national bodies and legislation in both countries, the findings allow the author to conclude that the lack of regular armies or military forces is not a convincing argument to disobey and ignore the norms of IHL.