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Ivorian children look at war and the law
08-03-2005 Photo gallery
The ICRC delegation in Côte d’Ivoire has taken the original step of asking street children in Abidjan, under the supervision of the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire, to produce illustrations relating to the basic rules of humanitarian law. The best drawings were published in a calendar.
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Since September 2002 life in Côte d’Ivoire has been punctuated by serious incidents of violence. Many civilians have already died as a result of the warring parties’ ignorance of the basic rules of international humanitarian law.
The ICRC delegation in Abidjan, in cooperation with the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire, is endeavouring to spread knowledge of the basic principles of humanitarian law. In particular, it is explaining to arms bearers what their obligations are in the conduct of hostilities: to spare civilians and their property, to treat prisoners with humanity, etc.
As part of this effort, the ICRC produced a 2005 calendar drawing attention to the basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. The artists providing illustrations for these rules are not well known among the general public – and for a very good reason, since they are street children. Taken in hand by the Ivorian Red Cross, they placed their talent in the service of humanity and produced a series of “naive” pictures that forcefully express their vision of a world of greater justice.
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“The displacement of the civilian population shall not be ordered for reasons related to the conflict unless the security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand.”
Additional Protocol II, Article 17
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“Women (...) shall be protected (...) against rape, forced prostitution and any other form of indecent assault.”
Additional Protocol I, Article 76
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“Each Party to the conflict shall facilitate enquiries made by members of families dispersed owing to the war, with the object of renewing contact with one another and of meeting, if possible. It shall encourage, in particular, the work of organizations engaged on this task (...).”
Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 26
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“All the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, whether or not they have taken part in the armed conflict, shall be respected and protected. In all circumstances they shall be treated humanely and shall receive, to the fullest extent practicable and with the least possible delay, (...) medical care (...).”
Additional Protocol II, Article 7
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“(...) This prohibition applies not only to murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation and medical or scientific experiments not necessitated by the medical treatment of a protected person, but also to any other measures of brutality whether applied by civilian or military agents.”
Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 32
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“A military commander or person effectively acting as a military commander shall be criminally responsible for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court committed by forces under his or her effective command and control (...).”
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Article 28
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“It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as (...) drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works (...).”
Additional Protocol I, Article 54 and Additional Protocol II, Article 14
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“(...) the emblem of the red cross on a white ground (...) may not be employed (...) in time of war, except to indicate or to protect the medical units and establishments, the personnel and material protected (...).”
First Geneva Convention, Article 44
“(...) the following acts shall be regarded as grave breaches of this Protocol (...): (...) the perfidious use (...) of the distinctive emblem of the red cross (...).”
Additional Protocol I, Article 85
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“In order to ensure respect for and protection of the civilian population and civilian objects, the Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operations only against military objectives.”
Additional Protocol I, Article 48
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“(...) children (...) shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities (...).”
Additional Protocol II, Article 4
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“(...) the following acts against the persons referred to (...) are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever: (...) collective punishments; taking of hostages; acts of terrorism; outrages upon personal dignity (...); slavery (...); pillage (...).”
Additional Protocol II, Article 4
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“(...) the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the (...) persons (referred to): (...) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.”
Geneva Conventions, common Article 3
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“Each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances: to use anti-personnel mines (...).”
Ottawa Convention, Article 1
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“(...) it is prohibited: to commit any acts of hostility directed against the historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples (...).”
Additional Protocol I, Article 53
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