The Pacific is today one of the world's most peaceful populated regions. The Second World War, and even the civil conflicts in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville, seem long gone. For many, this vast oceanic region, home to many of the world's smallest nations, evokes palm fronds, coral reefs and pristine white-sand beaches. On the ocean whose very name means "peaceful", war is a thing of the past – or so one would hope.
Why, then, did legal experts from 12 Pacific island nations recently gather in the Fijian tourism hub of Nadi to discuss the laws of armed conflict? To the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which co-hosted the inaugural Pacific Islands Roundtable on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) with the Government of Fiji, the answer is simple: the laws of war must be put in place in times of peace so that future armed conflicts are fought with limits. Once conflict breaks out, it is much more difficult to establish legal limits that protect civilians
The Roundtable, which took place on 24-25 October 2017, was opened by His Excellency the President Major General (Ret'd) Jioji Konusi Konrote of Fiji and ICRC Vice President Christine Beerli. Twenty-five representatives from 12 Pacific Island countries participated, including 5 from Pacific National Societies. Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and regional organisations were also in attendance. We've put together this photo gallery to explain what this unique event was all about.