Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
What can States do to ensure greater respect for international humanitarian law?
What can you do to ensure that the most vulnerable are effectively protected and assisted? We make two calls in this regard:
- First, demonstrate leadership to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, making this a political priority.
- Second, allow neutral and impartial humanitarian organizations to effectively assist and protect people affected by armed conflict.
Through the Geneva Conventions, states have universally committed to respect and ensure respect for IHL. In today’s polarized context, states have to take a leading role in ensuring IHL compliance. In May this year, the UN Security Council hosted its annual Debate on the Protection of Civilians. Well over one hundred States referred to the critical importance of complying with IHL. So the humanitarian imperative is clear. But, in practice, what does IHL compliance look like?
At the domestic level, it begins with States ratifying all key IHL treaties and anchoring their obligations in domestic legislation. These legal commitments must be then integrated into military doctrine and training curricula, in rules of engagement as well as in practical military exercises. States must also ensure that IHL is integrated in the military justice systems, and that sanctions are taken in case of grave violations of IHL, thus sending clear signals across military chains of command. It is also essential to regularly review IHL compliance, notably through national IHL committees. You can count on us to assist you in this endeavour: