Humanitarian aid States want to better protect war victims
Numerous states want better protection for victims of war. According to an ICRC interim report published on Thursday, more than 130 states noted the importance of respecting international humanitarian law during the most recent consultation.
16.10.2025, 18:05
SDA
Last year, six countries launched a two-year global initiative to strengthen international humanitarian law. After a year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva noted that all countries involved in the discussion were concerned about the constant violations of international humanitarian law.
The participants reaffirmed that international law was the only way forward in the face of suffering in wars. Without its protective framework, impunity for violations would only increase.
The participating states, including Switzerland, acknowledged their individual and joint responsibility to guarantee respect for international humanitarian law. As ICRC President Mirjana Spoljari Egger explained, the participating states approved her proposal to define the initiative for international law as a political priority.
No politicization
At the meeting with representatives of states and international organizations in Geneva, Spoljaric Egger went on to say that international humanitarian law should not be politicized. For the victims, it is not a legal matter, but "real and concrete". Efforts and resources are needed to implement international law, particularly in national discussions and legislation.
States must punish violations of international law on their own territory, the ICRC interim report continued. They should ensure investigations, prosecutions and sanctions in the event of violations.
The consultations will continue in the seven working groups. Switzerland is co-chairing the working group on international humanitarian law and new technologies. In this context, Spoljaric Egger stated that the Geneva Conventions must remain "robust" and "relevant" in the face of cyber warfare.
Daily violations
Although Switzerland was not one of the six countries that launched the initiative, it quickly joined it, as did the more than 90 states that now support it.
Speaking to the other countries, Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), promised that Switzerland would continue to support the initiative. As the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, Switzerland has a responsibility at a time when international humanitarian law is being trampled underfoot on a daily basis.
According to him, Switzerland would like to see this law applied in a compliant manner by everyone so that it can fulfill its purpose, namely the protection of the civilian population.
