- Preventing war atrocities: more political will needed
The growing number of violations of the Geneva Conventions for the protection of people in war situations is, according to experts, a stain on humanity. On the 75th anniversary of the signing of the four Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls on governments and warring parties to strengthen their political will to uphold the protective rules. The conventions were signed on August 12, 1949, and came into force a year later.
A Setback for Our Common Humanity
"The Geneva Conventions were created precisely to protect civilians, prisoners, wounded, and sick from the horrors of conflict," says Laurent Gisel, a lawyer at the ICRC, to the German Press Agency. "Violating them is a major setback for our common humanity."
Gisel heads the ICRC department for weapons and warfare. The ICRC oversees the conventions and has the mandate of the international community to provide humanitarian action in armed conflicts and other situations.
Stronger Political Will Needed
Attacks like those on residential buildings in the Ukraine, hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and the encirclement and starvation of civilians in the Sudan are prohibited by the Geneva Conventions. "The political will of the international community and the implementation of the Geneva Conventions on the battlefield are necessary to save lives," said Gisel. "States and warring parties must now lead by example. Making the observance of the laws of war a political priority is essential to ensure that these laws continue to protect humanity in times of conflict."
The violation of the Geneva Conventions in conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine, is a direct challenge to our common humanity. To effectively uphold these protective rules and prevent the suffering of civilians, a stronger political will is required from all parties involved.
