AG/RES. 1503 (XXVII-O/97)
RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
(Resolution adopted at the seventh plenary session, held on June 5, 1997)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
CONSIDERING its resolutions AG/RES. 1270 (XXIV-O/94), AG/RES. 1335 (XXV-O/95), and AG/RES. 1408 (XXVI-O/96) on respect for international humanitarian law;
CONVINCED of the continuing value of the fundamental principles and established rules of international humanitarian law and of the need to respect and ensure respect for these rules in all circumstances;
STRESSING the need to consolidate the existing body of international humanitarian law by achieving universal acceptance thereof, the need for wide dissemination and full implementation of that law at the national level, and the need to repress all violations of its provisions;
CONSIDERING:
That the Organization of American States proclaims the fundamental rights of the individual and encourages the promotion of those rights; and
That all member states should raise awareness of international humanitarian law in their respective countries;
RECALLING the continuing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to promote and disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law and the activities it carries out in its capacity as a specifically neutral and independent intermediary; and
RECALLING ALSO the cooperation agreement signed by the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States and the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 10, 1996, in the city of Washington, D.C., as well as the Seminar on International Humanitarian Law, held jointly by the General Secretariat and the ICRC in January 1997,
RESOLVES:
The adoption of adequate criminal legislation to punish war crimes in international conflicts and other serious violations of international humanitarian law;
The adoption of measures to prevent misuse of the red cross and red crescent emblems and other signs provided for in the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols; and
The dissemination of the appropriate humanitarian treaties among the armed forces, security forces, and the general public and the appointment and training of persons qualified in international humanitarian law including legal advisers within the armed forces.