Interview: Upholding int'l humanitarian law key to peace, says ICRC president

Spoljaric underscored the devastating consequences of failing to uphold international humanitarian law, explaining that tolerating such violations significantly increases the human cost of conflict.

by Xinhua writers Wang Qibing, Zhang Yuli

GENEVA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), emphasized the critical need for all countries to uphold international humanitarian law and foster a culture of peace within a multilateral framework.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua during a special discussion hosted by the ICRC on Thursday, Spoljaric highlighted the widespread violations of international humanitarian law in global conflict zones.

She stressed that only when States Parties to the Geneva Conventions take concrete steps to enhance respect for international law and cultivate a global culture of peace can this alarming trend be reversed.

Addressing the rise in violent conflicts worldwide, Spoljaric said, "What we are observing today is a fast-growing number of conflicts. We classify 120 ongoing conflicts today, several times more than 25 years ago."

"We also observe that these conflicts are not only large in scale but also fought with high intensity. Moreover, there is an increasing tendency to be permissive, if not outright dismissive, interpretations of international humanitarian law and how it applies to the conduct of hostilities," Spoljaric added.

Spoljaric underscored the devastating consequences of failing to uphold international humanitarian law, explaining that tolerating such violations significantly increases the human cost of conflict.

"By cost, I mean human suffering, human deaths, human injuries, human displacement and a high, very high number of missing persons," said the ICRC president.

"In Syria, tens of thousands of families are searching for their relatives, and we still don't know whether they will ever be found or how long it will take," she said, noting that conflicts place an immense financial burden on states, and better adherence to international humanitarian law could reduce the need for extensive humanitarian aid.

Reflecting on the enforcement of humanitarian law in conflict zones, Spoljaric recalled that the 1949 Geneva Conventions were ratified by States Parties with the fundamental purpose of protecting civilians and critical infrastructure during war.

However, she lamented that these principles are now violated daily, with ICRC teams often denied access to conflict zones where humanitarian aid is urgently needed.

Regarding the ICRC's advocacy efforts, Spoljaric clarified that while the ICRC is not a governmental organization, it collaborates with all states, as they are all parties to the Geneva Conventions.

She noted that the ICRC aims to convene an international conference in late 2026 to strengthen concrete measures for implementing international humanitarian law.

Recognizing China's role as a key co-initiator, Spoljaric commended the country's active engagement in humanitarian relief efforts across various conflict zones and its longstanding cooperation with the ICRC.

"China is a very important partner and supporter of the ICRC," she affirmed. ■