16 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICT harm to other persons, or would be clearly inappropriate or pointless in the circumstances of the incident.” When comparing norms of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, it becomes apparent that the latter protects only some human rights and only to the extent that they are particularly endangered by armed conflicts, and is not, as such, incompatible with the very existence of an armed conflict. Thus, the right to social security, the right to free elections, freedom of thought or the right to self-determination are not covered by international humanitarian law. In a number of situations, its rules could be, on the limited issues they deal with, more adapted to the specific problems arising in armed conflicts. Moreover, while the rules of international humanitarian law on the treatment of persons who are in the power of the enemy may be understood as implementing their human rights, taking military necessity and the peculiarities of armed conflicts into account, certain rules on the conduct of hostilities deal with issues not addressed by human rights, e.g., who may directly participate in hostilities and how such persons must distinguish themselves from the civilian population, or the rights and identification of medical personnel. International humanitarian law provides for the protection of a number of civil and political rights (e.g., the right to life of enemies placed hors de combat or judicial guarantees), economic, social and cultural rights (e.g., the right to health and the right to food) and group rights (e.g., the right to a healthy environment). This is particularly evident concerning the wounded and the sick, who must be respected, protected, collected and cared for.   2. Modes of protection International human rights law imposes obligations to respect, protect and fulfil that stretch across all human rights. These three terms make it possible to determine whether international human rights obligations have been violated. While these terms have not traditionally been used