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INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT OAS

The promotion of international humanitarian law is a fundamental pillar in the work of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, presenters noted today at a meeting to spotlight how states are complying with international treaties in this area.

The meeting, held by the OAS Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs, also underscored the indispensable role that states have in protecting victims of armed conflict, a protection largely dependent on the respect of international humanitarian law by each state and by all states as collective guarantors of its principles.

Inaugurating the Special Meeting on Current Issues in International Humanitarian Law, at OAS headquarters in Washington, the Committee Chairman and Brazil’s Ambassador to the OAS, Osmar Chohfi, told participants that the forum would help promote cooperation among the member states, the OAS political bodies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which collaborated on organizing the event.

A variety of international legal experts joined member state representatives and OAS officials to discuss how countries in the hemisphere are complying with international provisions—including OAS resolutions—on the promotion of and respect for international humanitarian law. They also talked about current issues in this field, as well as humanitarian challenges and activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

During the opening session, participants also heard from Philip Spoerri, Director for International Law and Cooperation within the Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Spoerri described international humanitarian law as the most effective legal framework governing the conduct of hostilities.

“This body of law was developed specifically to allow for the legitimate security needs of states, on the one hand, and to protect the human life and basic rights, on the other. It is certainly possible to achieve a balance between the two, and the need to do so remains as strong as ever,” Spoerri remarked. He noted that all 194 states of the world have now formally acceded to the 1949 Geneva conventions and their 1997 and 2006 additional protocols.

Today’s special session stems from a resolution passed by the OAS General Assembly last June, which, among other provisions, urges the member states and parties engaged in armed conflict “to honor their obligations under international humanitarian law, including those pertaining to protection of the well-being and dignity of victims and the proper treatment of prisoners of war.”

On Wednesday, the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs hosted a course on international humanitarian law, in coordination with the ICRC, in fulfillment of the same OAS resolution. Also chaired by Ambassador Chohfi, it was designed for staff of the permanent missions and the OAS, as well as other students of the subject.

Reference: E-032/07