DUSHANBE, August 12, 2009, Asia-Plus — The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) is marking the 60th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions, signed on August 12, 1949, by calling for improved compliance with the treaties by States and armed groups, according to press release issued by the ICRC.
The ICRC is also use the occasion to present its views on future developments of international humanitarian law.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols form the backbone of international humanitarian law (IHL), which places limits on how war is waged. All 194 States are party to the Geneva Conventions, making them universal.
The ICRC is appealing to States – and to non-State armed groups, who are also bound by the rules – to show the political will needed to turn the legal provisions into a reality on the ground.
“We see violations of IHL on a regular basis in the field, ranging from the mass displacement of civilians to indiscriminate attacks and ill-treatment of prisoners,” said the ICRC’s president, Jakob Kellenberger. “Even wars have limits and if the existing rules were followed to a greater extent, much of the suffering caused by armed conflict could be avoided. On a more positive note, many of these violations are no longer going unnoticed. Increasingly, those responsible are being held accountable for their actions and that is a sign of progress.”
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols provide the most relevant existing framework for protecting civilians and sick, wounded or captured combatants. The humanitarian mandate of the ICRC – which includes visiting prisoners, organizing relief operations, reuniting separated families and other humanitarian activities during armed conflicts – is spelled out in these Conventions.
The ICRC has worked in Central Asia since 1992. It promotes the importance of international humanitarian law (IHL) and its incorporation into national legislation, as well as civilian educational programs. The ICRC also fosters the permanent integration of IHL into the doctrine, manuals and training programs of armed forces and approaches polices forces with a similar view to integrating human rights standards applicable to the use of force during social unrest.
The ICRC contributes to building the capacity of the region”s National Societies, particularly through IHL dissemination, the re-establishment of family links, mine risk education and assistance to the victims of armed violence.
