14 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICT in non-international armed conflicts. The International Committee of the Red Cross has a recognized role in the interpretation of international humanitarian law and is charged with working towards its faithful application in armed conflicts, taking cognizance of breaches of that law and contributing to the understanding, dissemination and development of the law.14   B. PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW Human rights are rights inherent in all human beings, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. They are often expressed and guaranteed by legal norms, in the form of treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down the obligations of States to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups. Human rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups from human rights abuses. The obligation to fulfil means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of human rights. As individuals, we are all entitled to human rights, but each of us should also respect the human rights of others. International humanitarian law limits the use of violence in armed conflicts to spare those who do not or who no longer directly participate   See Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements, art. 5.2 (c) and (g). For additional detail on the “guardian” function of ICRC, see Y. Sandoz, “The International Committee for the Red Cross as guardian of international humanitarian law”, 31 December 1998. Available from www.icrc.org. 14