The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned against normalizing violations of international humanitarian law as it marks the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The ICRC called on the world to respect the conventions, which set out the rules of war and aim to protect civilians, detainees, and wounded soldiers. The ICRC President, Mirjana Spoljaric, emphasized the need for a renewed commitment to international humanitarian law, citing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, and Myanmar as examples where the conventions are being ignored.
The Geneva Conventions, finalized in 1949, prohibit torture and sexual violence, require humane treatment of detainees, and mandate searches for missing persons. The ICRC highlighted the importance of upholding these rules, particularly in the face of more than 120 active conflicts worldwide, fueled by new technologies, urban warfare, and dehumanizing tactics like labeling opponents as terrorists.
The ICRC stressed that violations of the conventions, such as targeting hospitals and aid workers, should not be tolerated. When these violations go unpunished, they can perpetuate cycles of violence and prolong armed conflicts. Notable examples include accusations of Israel violating the conventions during the conflict in Gaza and calls for Russia’s actions in Ukraine to be investigated as war crimes.
The ICRC’s message underscores the urgent need for all parties involved in armed conflicts to adhere to international humanitarian law and uphold the principles of the Geneva Conventions to protect human dignity and save lives.
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