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International Red and Red Crescent Movement will use the occasion
of the new millennium to promote the Fundamental Principles
and explore its role in meeting the humanitarian challenges
of the 21st century. From 8 May 1999 to 8 May 2000, a series
of celebrations, programmes and campaigns will be organized
by the ICRC, the International Federation and the 175 National
Societies. Key events include 'Dance the World' planned for
8 May 1999, "Profiling 2,000 volunteers', the 5Otb anniversary
of the Geneva Conventions on 12 August 1999 and the 27th International
Conference of theRed Cross and Red Crescent.
From now until the year
2000, the Red Cross, Red Crescent magazine will profile the
wide variety of activities taking place. In this issue, the
ICRC’s campaign to promote the Geneva Conventions -
People on war - is highlighted. |
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People on war
12 August will mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions
- the most important international instruments for protecting
human dignity in war. The conventions are among, the most
widely ratified treaties in the world and have brought protection
to countless numbers of people. However, suffering in war
today is widespread and increasingly targets civilians. This
deserves attention and demands action. 'We are witnessing
conflicts whose very aim is to exterminate certain communities
or ethnic groups, and in which the most atrocious crimes -
including attacks on humanitarian workers - are committed
as part of the war strategy. Promoting and respecting humanitarian
law is thus of paramount importance if we don't want barbarity
to triumph over civilization," exclaims Cornelio Sommaruga,
President of the ICRC. |
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Even wars have limits
The ICRC is organizing a campaign to promote the conventions
and their relevance in the brutal and chaotic context of modern
day warfare; in the hope of better protecting civilians caught
in armed conflict. From November 1998 to August 1999 staff
will ask thousands of people from war-torn countries to share
their personal experiences, views on the limits of warfare
and thoughts on improving respect of humanitarian law. The
opinions of groups especially affected - refugees, displaced
people, mine victims, relatives of missing people, prisoners
of war - will be gathered.
A similar survey will be undertaken in countries at peace,
in cooperation with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Special efforts will be made to consult the military, the
principal 'users' of humanitarian law
The results of the consultations will be made public in the
hope of generating a worldwide debate on international humanitarian
law among people with an interest in the subject, including
government and military legal authorities, community leaders,
academics, journalists, aid worker and staff of international
organizations. At the same time, the ICRC will share the results
with the communities who participated in the surveys to contribute
to local discussions and efforts to assist victims of armed
conflict.
A special Internet site will be created which will include,
excerpts from people's accounts of their experiences, the
results of the worldwide opinion survey and information on
the campaign's progress. The purpose is to stimulate an, interactive
debate among experts and ordinary citizens from around the
globe. The site will offer journalists direct access to human
interest stories/features and documentaries. National Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies will promote the campaign
through their media channels. A variety of printed materials
will also be made available, including publications, photos,
audiovisuals and a final report on the results of the consultation.
Globally, the campaign aims to raise public awareness of
existing international humanitarian rules and their importance
in warfare. And while the campaign has many facets, ultimately
it is being carried out for one reason only: to give better
protection to people in times of armed conflict. |
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The Geneva Conventions of 1949 are founded on the idea of
limiting and preventing human suffering in times of armed
conflict. People not directly taking part in hostilities and
those put out of action through sickness, injury, captivity
or any other cause must be respected and protected against
the effects of war; those who suffer must be aided and cared
for without discrimination.
The Additional Protocols of 1977 supplement this protection
by strengthening the rules governing the conduct of hostilities. |
