The Red Cross warns of the dangers caused by non-compliance with international humanitarian law

Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), drew attention to the dangers caused by non-compliance with international humanitarian law and called on states to once again give political priority to its application. In an interview with the Swiss daily Le Temps, Spoljaric emphasized the importance of regulating the way in which armed conflicts are conducted: "Humanitarian law does not prevent wars, but regulates the way in which they are conducted, so that negotiation and peace building are possible afterwards. " However, she warned, international humanitarian law is being "systematically trampled" by those running military operations. The ICRC president described the current situation as "extremely dangerous", highlighting the long-term risks: "The traumas created by the ongoing conflicts risk haunting us for decades and, in my view, it is essential that we act now." She referred to the conflicts in the Gaza Strip, Sudan and Ukraine, highlighting the intensity of these wars in a highly polarized global political context. The neutrality of the ICRC, a fundamental pillar of the organization, is under increasing pressure under these conditions, Spoljaric also said. She noted the difficulties the organization faces in accessing affected populations, noting that this access is "increasingly hindered and exploited."

• Application of the Geneva Conventions

The International Committee of the Red Cross is the guarantor of the Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1949, after the Second World War. These international treaties establish humanitarian law designed to protect civilians and limit the impact of armed conflict. The ICRC recently launched an initiative with the participation of six countries - Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa - to strengthen the enforcement of international humanitarian law. The purpose of this platform is not to reinvent the Geneva Conventions, but to urge states to respect and more rigorously apply these legal texts. Spoljaric warned that future armed conflicts will be significantly influenced by new technologies and artificial intelligence, stressing the importance of their prevention. The six states involved in the ICRC initiative have committed to strengthening the uniform and universal application of international humanitarian law. Expert groups will be established to develop recommendations to be presented in 2026, and states will be able to adopt these measures to strengthen compliance with humanitarian law.