The Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions
31-12-1986 Article, International Review of the Red Cross, No. 256
25th International Conference of the Red Cross, Geneva, 23 to 31 October 1986, Resolution 2
The Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross,
recalling Resolution VII adopted by the Twenty-fourth International Conference of the Red Cross,
having examined the ICRC report on signatures, ratifications and accessions to the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, adopted by consensus on 8 June 1977 at the Diplomatic Conference in Geneva,
confirming the interest of the International Conference in the reaffirmation and development of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts,
mindful of the need for consolidating and implementing the existing body of international humanitarian law and for the universal acceptance of such law,
particularly mindful of the need to protect the civilian population against the effects of hosti lities and of the role of the ICRC, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and civil defence organizations in this respect,
1. appreciates the virtually universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,
2. notes, however, the fact that so far a more limited number of States have become Parties to the two Additional Protocols,
3. appeals to all States Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 to consider becoming Party also to the Additional Protocols at the earliest possible date,
4. calls upon all States becoming Parties to Protocol I to consider making the declaration provided for under Article 90 of that Protocol,
5. requests the ICRC, within its statutory mandate and in co-operation with National Societies, to promote knowledge of the Additional Protocols for the purpose of realizing the above objectives.