More than 160 states have joined consultations to strengthen civilian protection as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns that disregard for humanitarian law is worsening suffering in more than 130 armed conflicts worldwide.
The ICRC released practical, nonbinding guidance outlining measures governments and armed forces can take to protect civilians, hospitals and essential services during armed conflict.
The recommendations followed two years of consultations involving more than 160 states and were published ahead of the Global International Humanitarian Law Dialogue in Geneva on Nov. 3-4.
“We witness emboldened warring parties adopting overly permissive or outright dismissive interpretations of international humanitarian law that perpetuate rather than prevent suffering. 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,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
The guidance calls on governments to address language and conduct that portray certain individuals or groups as less deserving of protection during armed conflict.
Proposed measures include setting standards for how military personnel refer to enemy forces and civilian populations, monitoring social media activity by armed forces and public authorities, and incorporating humanitarian values into civic education and national commemorations.
The ICRC also urged states to strengthen protections for infrastructure that civilians depend on, including hospitals, water systems, electricity networks, sanitation facilities and communications services.
The recommendations include establishing protected zones around essential infrastructure, placing medical facilities on no-strike lists and improving coordination between civilian authorities and military forces.
Governments are also encouraged to maintain safe maritime corridors to allow essential goods to reach populations affected by armed conflict.
The guidance addresses risks associated with new technologies in warfare, including the need to continuously review and cross-check information used to identify potential military targets.
It also recommends regulating personal digital devices in operational settings to help prevent sexual violence and the recruitment of children.
Twenty-seven states from five continents led discussions on the recommendations, which seek to demonstrate how existing humanitarian rules can be applied in contemporary conflicts.
The Geneva dialogue, hosted by Switzerland and the ICRC on Nov. 3-4, brought together governments, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the findings of the consultations.
The discussions precede a high-level conference scheduled for Dec. 7 in Jordan, hosted by King Abdullah II.
Leaders of the 127 states that have officially joined the Global IHL Initiative will be invited to demonstrate their political commitment to upholding international humanitarian law.
The ICRC said the guidance provides a roadmap for parties to armed conflicts and states that support them to improve civilian protection, but its implementation will depend on the political will of governments and military leaders.
