ICRC president: At 77, the Geneva Conventions remain indispensable to humanity and global stability

Statement by Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the ICRC, to mark the 77th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 on August 12th:

On 12 August 1949, states came together in the wake of the unprecedented death and destruction of the Second World War to adopt the Geneva Conventions. In doing so, they committed to universal redlines for how wars can be fought.

Seventy-seven years later, the promise made by states to preserve humanity in war is eroding at an alarming pace. The world is counting more conflicts each year. Technologies like drones and cyber capabilities are reshaping the battlefield and erasing the notion of a clearly defined frontline. Atrocities are becoming dangerously normalised and the victims of war dehumanized.

In today’s interconnected world, no one is immune to the effects of war. As parties to the Geneva Conventions, states bear a unique responsibility to uphold these lifesaving rules. Doing so is a moral and strategic imperative that protects people both near and far the frontlines. It is also foundational to global peace and prosperity.

Changing course is still possible, but only if exceptional efforts are made now to strengthen respect for and commitment to international humanitarian law. More than 115 states have officially joined a global initiative to renew political will for international humanitarian law. I call on all states who have not yet joined to do so. The world future generations will inherit depends on the decisions world leaders make today to commit to preserving these lifesaving rules.

Legal Resources

Articles and Publications