Geneva Conventions mark 75 anniversary with concern, not celebration

The Geneva Conventions, which aim to protect the human rights of civilians caught up in war, were signed 75 years ago, but the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sees little cause for celebration.

"International humanitarian law is under strain, disregarded
undermined," the ICRC's president, Mirjana Spoljaric, said in Geneva on Monday.

She is deeply concerned and warned that parties to conflicts were increasingly pushing the boundaries of what they considered to be permissible in war. This, she said, weakens the protective effect of the Geneva Conventions.

The strictly neutral organization is supposed to monitor compliance with the conventions worldwide. The four Geneva Conventions were signed on August 12, 1949, and have been ratified by 196 countries.

They now apply universally, to armies and non-state armed groups alike. Among other things, they protect civilians and prisoners of war.

Spoljaric highlighted that hospitals and schools are increasingly being attacked in conflicts. In addition, humanitarian aid is sometimes blocked with the argument that the material could be misused for purposes other than supporting uninvolved civilians.

She appealed to states and groups involved in conflicts around the world to renew their commitment to the Geneva Conventions, and pointed out that while there were 20 active conflicts worldwide 25 years ago, today there are more than 120.

The ICRC is in contact with 200 parties to current conflicts and trains many of them to promote compliance with international humanitarian law.

Spoljaric also called for rules on the use of autonomous weapons. This refers to systems that are trained with artificial intelligence, which can find and engage targets on their own. In the end, people should always have to decide on the use of weapons in war, she said.

Spoljaric called on politicians in all countries to contribute more to conflict resolution. "Where are the peace makers? Where are the men and women leading the negotiations and preserving the space to do so?" she questioned.

She emphasized that no country is immune to attacks, and that everyone benefits economically and socially for decades to come if conflicts are resolved peacefully or avoided altogether.