More than 160 states developed practical steps to uphold humanity in war
"We witness emboldened warring parties adopting overly permissive or outright dismissive interpretations of international humanitarian law that perpetuate rather than prevent suffering," said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “What is needed now is the political will to make international humanitarian law a priority at the highest level and to uphold it in military decisions.”
The guidance identifies several areas for action to strengthen respect for international humanitarian law. For instance, it provides ways for states to counter narratives and behaviour that portray individuals or groups as less deserving of protection. This includes guidance for armed forces on how to refer to the enemy and civilian populations, monitoring social media use by armed forces and public authorities, and integrating humanitarian values into civic education and national commemorations.
Protecting civilians also means protecting the services their lives depend on. The guidance offers concrete measures for states to effectively preserve access to health care, water, electricity, sanitation and communications. This can include establishing protected zones around essential infrastructure, placing medical facilities on no-strike lists, improving civil-military coordination and maintaining safe maritime corridors for essential goods.
States are also urged to ensure that new technologies strengthen - rather than undermine - protection in armed conflict. This includes continuously reviewing and cross-verifying information on potential targets and regulating personal digital devices in operational settings to help prevent sexual violence and the recruitment of children.
Twenty-seven states from five continents led the discussions on these issues with the aim of demonstrating that it is feasible to respect the rules of war and protect civilians in contemporary conflicts. Warring parties, and those that support them, now have a clear roadmap. With political will, they have the power to improve the situation for the millions of people caught up in war.
Note to editors
Hosted by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Global IHL Dialogue is a two-day meeting where states, civil society and other stakeholders are invited to engage on the outcomes of two years of state-led consultations, involving more than 160 states, on how the rules of war can be better applied in practice to protect civilians and limit suffering. These consultations informed the identification of practical, non-binding guidance issued ahead of the 3-4 November meeting in Geneva. The dialogue will be followed by a high-level conference on 7 December in Jordan, hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II, where leaders of the 127 states that have officially joined the Global IHL Initiative will be invited to demonstrate political commitment to the rules of war.
About the ICRC
Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to relieve suffering and preserve human dignity during war and armed violence. Alongside our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, we deliver life-saving aid across front lines and strive to reconnect families and locate missing people.
Engaging with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, we advocate for humane treatment of detainees and urge compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm, including online.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Hanger, ICRC Geneva, Tel.: +41 793138461 , changer@icrc.org
Press Office, ICRC Geneva, Tel.: +41 22 730 34 43, press@icrc.org
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