The relationship between international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law can be confusing. The two bodies of law intersect in some areas and complement each other. IHL applies during armed conflict and is also known as the law of armed conflict; its focus is to protect the rights of wounded and sick combatants, POWs and civilians. Human rights law applies in war or peace but deals primarily with government violations of people's civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.