6th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on International Humanitarian Law concludes
Today, the 6th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on International Humanitarian Law concluded in Pretoria, South Africa.
The conference brought together representatives from government, the Red Cross, and legal specialists from over 30 Commonwealth countries.
At the conference, attendees examined the implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in different countries and shared strategies for the compliance and enforcement of these laws. Discussions were also held about the continued relevance of the Geneva Conventions, and issues including human protection, sexual violence, the separated and missing, and the dignified treatment of the dead during armed conflict.
The conference is also a strong indicator of the increasingly significant role South Africa plays in promoting humanity and encouraging dialogue to resolve global conflicts. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki recently called on the International Humanitarian Conference to quickly resolve the tension in Sudan and prevent a drawn-out humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation, a year after the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces exchanged heavy gunfire in Sudan’s capital. Should the conference succeed in alleviating friction in Sudan, it may increase both South Africa’s and the conference’s legitimacy in addressing future global conflicts.
