Ecuador
Practice Relating to Rule 1. The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants
Ecuador’s Naval Manual (1989) states: “The law of armed conflicts is based largely on the distinction to be made between combatants and noncombatants.”
In its written statement submitted to the ICJ in the
Nuclear Weapons case in 1995, Ecuador stated: “The use of nuclear weapons does not discriminate, in general, military objectives from civilian objectives.”
Ecuador’s Naval Manual (1989) states that only attacks against combatants and other military objectives are lawful.
Ecuador’s Naval Manual (1989) states: “Civilians and civilian objects may not be made the object of attack.”
The manual further states that “bombardment for the sole purpose of attacking and terrorizing the civilian population” constitutes a war crime.