Commitment to uphold Geneva conventions waning, ICRC president warns int’l community
The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, has cautioned that the future of the Geneva Conventions and the protection they offer in times of war depends on the political choices world leaders make today.
Speaking on the 76th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, Spoljaric warned that while the rules of war remain in place, the resolve to uphold them is “weakening,” with “catastrophic consequences” for civilians, the wounded, and prisoners caught in armed conflicts.
Related news
ICRC ecstatic over ceasefire in Middle East
Middle East: ICRC expresses fear of armed conflict escalation, urges respect for IHL
ICRC treats 41 victims of Gwoza bomb blast
“Seventy-six years ago today, the world made a solemn promise through the Geneva Conventions that even in war, there are limits.
“These rules were not created to serve the powerful. They exist to protect the powerless,” she said in a statement released in Geneva.
The Geneva Conventions, which have been universally ratified, are regarded as some of the most widely accepted international treaties. When respected, they prevent brutality during warfare and help preserve channels for peace.
Spoljaric stressed that “respect for the rules of war is not optional” and called on governments to reinforce their commitment to international humanitarian law (IHL).
She highlighted a joint initiative launched in September last year by the ICRC and Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa to renew global political will for IHL.
“More than 70 states have since joined us in this effort. I urge all states to do the same,” she said.
She noted that the effectiveness of IHL “is only as strong as leaders’ political will to uphold it,” warning that the next 76 years of the Geneva Conventions will be shaped by decisions made now—decisions that will determine whether humanity is preserved or abandoned in times of war.
