ICRC celebrates 60th anniversary of Geneva Conventions
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) celebrates the 60th anniversary of 4 Geneva Conventions signed on August 12, 1949. Committee calls on states and armed groups to abide by agreements more strictly. It also plans to introduce its views on further development of international humanitarian law, ICRC Armenian office's delegation reported to a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.
Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols constitute the core of international humanitarian law (IHL), imposing constraints on tools and methods of waging war. The world's 194 countries are parties to those conventions.
ICRC calls on states and armed groups not belonging to any state to demonstrate political will towards adhering to legal norms that ensure a legal status.
"We conduct regular on-site observation of IHL violations, which range from mass displacement of civilians to indiscriminate attacks and ill-treatment to military hostages," ICRC President Jacob Kellenberger said. "Even war has certain limits, and if existing norms had been observed more frequently, sufferings caused by armed conflicts could have been avoided to a greater extent. There are also positive moments: many of those violations are no longer left unattended. Those culpable are held accountable more frequently, and that's really good."
"Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols create a more active legal base for protecting civilians and sick persons. Those agreements contain ICRC's mandate to humanitarian activity which includes visiting hostages, organizing assistance operations, reuniting separated relatives and during armed conflicts etc."
"Because of recent years' armed conflicts which had a complicated nature and difficulties in making distinction between combatants and civilians, as well as such phenomena as terrorism and asymmetric war, there were certain doubts as to IHL's importance," Kellenberger said. "IHL principles still remain actual, and the main problem is to ensure stricter adherence to law."
"In the meantime, it is required to clarify a number of key notions concerning present-day armed conflicts and elaborate certain norms which are not yet accomplished," he added. "Besides, it would be desirable to develop certain spheres of right, particularly those concerned with international armed conflicts. ICRC's role also consists in providing advice and recommendations on changes and clarifications considered important from humanitarian viewpoint."
Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols constitute the core of international humanitarian law (IHL), imposing constraints on tools and methods of waging war. The world's 194 countries are parties to those conventions.
ICRC calls on states and armed groups not belonging to any state to demonstrate political will towards adhering to legal norms that ensure a legal status.
"We conduct regular on-site observation of IHL violations, which range from mass displacement of civilians to indiscriminate attacks and ill-treatment to military hostages," ICRC President Jacob Kellenberger said. "Even war has certain limits, and if existing norms had been observed more frequently, sufferings caused by armed conflicts could have been avoided to a greater extent. There are also positive moments: many of those violations are no longer left unattended. Those culpable are held accountable more frequently, and that's really good."
"Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols create a more active legal base for protecting civilians and sick persons. Those agreements contain ICRC's mandate to humanitarian activity which includes visiting hostages, organizing assistance operations, reuniting separated relatives and during armed conflicts etc."
"Because of recent years' armed conflicts which had a complicated nature and difficulties in making distinction between combatants and civilians, as well as such phenomena as terrorism and asymmetric war, there were certain doubts as to IHL's importance," Kellenberger said. "IHL principles still remain actual, and the main problem is to ensure stricter adherence to law."
"In the meantime, it is required to clarify a number of key notions concerning present-day armed conflicts and elaborate certain norms which are not yet accomplished," he added. "Besides, it would be desirable to develop certain spheres of right, particularly those concerned with international armed conflicts. ICRC's role also consists in providing advice and recommendations on changes and clarifications considered important from humanitarian viewpoint."
