A non-international armed conflict exists whenever there is protracted armed violence Between governmental authorities and organised armed groups or between such groups within a State. This definition of non-•international armed conflict recognises that there are two separate categories of participants in non-international armed conflict The State, and the organised armed group, a fact so obvious that it should hardly need highlighting Yet, organised armed groups as the other main participating l in non-international armed conflict has traditionally been overlooked or entirely ignored , in scholarly writing. Only in the last decade have several important works been published about specific aspects of the law of non-international armed conflict. However, despite the increase in literature and case law covering the substantive law of non-international armed conflict, there has not yet been a comprehensive study that addresses the difficulties of a practical application of the law to non-international armed conflict and specifically to the conduct of organised armed groups engaged in such conflict This thesis fills this gap and addresses the following aspects of non-international armed conflict: the historical background of non-international armed conflict, ; the definition of non-international armed, ; application of international human rights law during a non- international armed conflict, and the effect this has on organised armed groups; the categories of persons in non-international armed conflict; and the binding nature of the law of non-international armed conflict on organised armed groups. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to realign the focus on non-international armed conflict from a State-centric view to consider organised armed groups As equal actors within non-international armed conflict , to discuss how they have been ignored as non-State actors and some of the problems that this has created in the application of the law of Inter-national armed conflict.

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[...]Finalisant cette recherche, l’on entrevoit un long parcours à suivre, qui peut se structurer, parmi d’autres, autour des questions suivantes qui restent ouvertes : Comment garantir juridiquement, d’une manière efficace, les droits sociaux aux minorités en accord avec les particularités culturelles de chacune d'entre elles ? ; Comment harmoniser les systèmes juridiques autochtones avec celui de l’État en vue de favoriser des relations justes parmi tous les citoyens ? Comment développer légalement les droits des minorités sans tomber dans un gigantisme immaîtrisable ? et, Comment promouvoir les droits de l’homme au-dedans des mêmes communautés minoritaires sans tomber dans le péril de porter atteinte à leur identité et autonomie ? Dans ce contexte une chose est certaine, seulement a travers une véritable démocratie pluraliste, engagée avec le respect et promotion des droits de l’homme, est possible arriver à une paix durable en Colombie. / [...]Finalizing this research, it sees a long route to follow, which can be structured, among others, on the following questions which remain open: how to ensure legally the social rights to minorities in accordance with the cultural characteristics of each of them; How to harmonize indigenous legal systems with that of the State in order to promote a fair relationships among all citizens?; How to develop legally the rights of minorities without falling into a complex Gigantism? and, how to promote the human rights within the same minority communities without the risk of interfering with their identity and autonomy? In this context one thing is certain, only through genuine pluralistic, committed democracy with respect for and promotion of the rights of man, is possible to reach a lasting peace in Colombie.