Dissemination of international humanitarian law and the principles and ideals of the Movement in the service of peace

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 4

The Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross,

 recalling Resolutions X and XI of the Twenty-fourth International Conference of the Red Cross and the resolutions of the previous International Conferences, as well as the Programme of Action of the Red Cross as  a Factor of Peace of the World Red Cross Conference on Peace (Belgrade, 1975), as adopted in 1977 and the conclusions of the Second World Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on Peace (Aaland and Stockholm, 1984),

 noting with satisfaction that the ICRC, the League and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have accomplished new progress in the field of dissemination of international humanitarian law and the principles and ideals of the Movement, in compliance with the Second Programme of Action with respect to dissemination of international humanitarian law and of the principles and ideals of the Red Cross (1982-1985),  

 noting that joint committees, composed of the appropriate ministries and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with the purpose of developing dissemination activities, as recommended by Resolution X of the Twenty-fourth International Conference of the Red Cross, have been set up in only a limited number of countries,

 aware that, by its humanitarian work and the dissemination of its ideals, the Movement promotes a lasting peace, which is not simply the absence of war, but is a dynamic process of co-operation among all States and peoples; co-operation founded on respect for freedom, independence, national sovereignty, equality, human rights, as well as on a fair and equitable distribution of resources to meet the needs of peoples,

 mindful that, according to Articles 47, 48, 127 and 144 of the First, Second, Third and Fourth 1949 Geneva Conventions respectively and to Articles 83 and 19 of the 1977 Protocols I and 11 respectively, States Parties have committed themselves to disseminate these treaties as widely as possible,

 1. takes note with satisfaction of the joint ICRC/League report on the dissemination activities on international, regional and national levels,

 2. requests governments within their competence to continue the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions and other agr eements containing rules of international humanitarian law applicable in international and noninternational armed conflicts, not only within the armed forces but also within government circles, universities, schools, the medical profession, the general public and the mass media,

 3. recalls Resolution X of the Twenty-fourth International Conference urging governments to set up joint committees representing appropriate ministries and National Societies for the development of dissemination activities,

 4. invites the whole International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to persevere in its activities of dissemination of international humanitarian law in various circles and to support the efforts of governments to that purpose,

 5. urges National Societies to continue and to develop, in co-operation with the ICRC and the League, the activities of dissemination of intemational humanitarian law on the national, regional and international levels through meetings, courses and seminars,

 6. invites National Societies, in co-operation with the ICRC and the League and with the due assistance of the Henry Dunant Institute, to appoint and train experts who will be permanently in charge of dissemination and to co-operate with national authorities, in particular the joint committees on dissemination,

 7. accepts the Third Programme of Action of the International Red Cross  and Red Crescent Movement with respect to dissemination of international  humanitarian law and of the principles and ideals of the Movement (1986 1990), as modified,

 8. requests the ICRC and the League to submit a joint report to the Twenty-sixth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent on international, regional and national dissemination activities, including the follow-up to the Programme of Action, as well as a comprehensive compendium of reports prepared by the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions and by the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.