The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law

Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier

Last modification date July 23, 2024, 11:57 a.m. by msf

Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, a Doctor of Law and magistrate, is Director of the Intersectional legal department of Médecins Sans Frontières.

She is the author of several books and articles on humanitarian action, humanitarian law and international justice, in particular the Practical Guide to Humanitarian law (Rowman & Littlefield ed. 2013, first published in 1998 translated in 7 languages).

She is involved in framing the rights and responsibilities of MSF humanitarian and medical activities in situation of armed conflict or internal tensions, as well as medical rights and duties when treating sick, wounded, victims of violence and sexual violence and interacting with judicial systems.

In the past 25 years, she has been involved in developing key MSF policies and public positioning on humanitarian action and mass crimes, military intervention and international criminal justice as well as advancing the framework protecting humanitarian access and medical mission in armed conflict and other emergency situations.

She teaches humanitarian law and international security at Paris Institute of Political sciences, Paris Catholic Institute and La Sorbonne University. She is also a member of the Editorial Committee of the International Review of the Red Cross and of the Editorial Committee of the historical publication of MSF Speaking Out case studies.

In 2018, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier was the recipient of the Henry Dunant Field Prize (http://www.prix-henry-dunant.org/en/recipients-field/2018-francoise-bouchet-saulnier/) for her significant contributions to the study, spread, and renewal of the ideas and achievements of Henry Dunant regarding humanitarian law and action.

For the 2024 updated online version, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier would like to extend her gratitude to Julie Hotte for her collaboration and support in the substantial revision of around 50 entries as well as in the normal update of the rest of the book. This includes research, drafting new sections, revision, and update of the text as well as proposals of additional developments reflecting the evolution of international humanitarian law and international criminal case law.