VE Day and VJ Day: Commemorations for the 80th anniversaries
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, with a series of commemorative events planned.

This Commons Library briefing paper is an introductory guide to International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
International Humanitarian Law: a primer (372 KB , PDF)
IHL is the body of international rules that seeks to limit the damage caused by armed conflict through regulating its conduct.
Instead of trying to prevent armed conflict, it seeks a compromise between two basic underlying principles of humanity and military necessity. It does this by:
IHL does not determine the circumstances in which a state may resort to using force.
IHL applies in any armed conflict between states, however it began, and regardless of how it is categorised by the parties. This is called International Armed Conflict (IAC).
It also applies in armed conflicts involving non-state actors. However, if the armed conflict is within a state, only a basic set of rules applies, and even then only if the armed conflict is sufficiently intense. This is called Non-International Armed Conflict (NIAC).
The basic rules of IHL include:
IHL is made up of treaties (including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols) and customary law.
Every state in the world has agreed to be bound by the Geneva Conventions, and many have also agreed to their additional protocols and to other IHL treaties.
Many of the rules set out in those treaties are also considered to be part of customary international law, which binds all states and other participants in armed conflict. There are further rules of customary international law which are not found in treaties.
Both treaties and customary law have evolved over the years. Many aspects have also been interpreted by judges in both domestic and international courts and tribunals, although not all of these interpretations are binding.
Current challenges for IHL include:
International Humanitarian Law: a primer (372 KB , PDF)
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, with a series of commemorative events planned.
An overview of the military assistance provided to Ukraine between February 2022 and January 2025
A general debate on the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan is scheduled for Monday 21 July 2025 in the main chamber.