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Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law

Calling for humanity to be upheld in war

The Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law

Despite a global consensus supporting the Geneva Conventions, adherence to even the most fundamental humanitarian norms is shockingly insufficient in today’s warzones. Current conflicts show, in appalling and devastating ways, the significant challenges facing international humanitarian law (IHL) in providing effective and meaningful protection for people affected by armed conflicts.  

The ICRC believes that this tragic trend can and must be reversed — provided there is strong and sustained political commitment to respect and implement IHL.

Together with Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, the ICRC has launched a global initiative aimed at galvanising political commitment to IHL. Over the next two years, this initiative seeks to develop a set of concrete and actionable recommendations to ensure that IHL is not only better respected but adapted for the future. This effort will culminate with a High-Level Meeting to Uphold Humanity in War in 2026.

The hope is that the initiative will contribute to tangible changes on the ground by strengthening political commitment and providing actionable recommendations.  

We call on all High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to join this initiative to solidify sustained political will to ensure respect for, compliance with, and implementation of IHL. We are driven by a unified goal: to use IHL as a guiding framework to reduce suffering and help steer armed conflicts toward peaceful resolution. 

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Frequently asked questions

  • The overall goal of this initiative is first to make IHL a political priority, at global, regional and domestic levels. Secondly, it is to re-centre the debate about armed conflicts on the urgent need to set higher expectations by the international community to parties to conflict for the universal, systematic and faithful application of IHL; and thirdly, to start a process to discuss challenges on specific IHL topics, such as prevention of violations or conduct of hostilities rules, in order to make clear recommendations to address them. 

    The initiative will produce concrete and practical recommendations to meet these challenges. The work will culminate in a landmark meeting to uphold humanity in war by the end of 2026. 

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions. The Conventions have been universally ratified, and together with IHL more generally, they have proven over decades that, when respected, they can save millions of lives. Yet, ongoing armed conflicts are causing devastating human suffering and displacement. Violations of fundamental rules remain a serious concern. 

    Today, many feel that IHL is at a crossroads: as these challenges grow, the world must decide whether to reassert a strong and effective commitment to respect IHL. This initiative, launched by six states from around the world and inviting all states to join, seeks to give a strong impulse to bring hope and fight lethargy, because disregard for international humanitarian law is not inevitable. It can – and must – be overcome.   

  • It is anticipated that the initiative will be composed of several workstreams, running in parallel. These workstreams will look at specific areas of IHL that are in need of deeper reflection and urgent action. They will involve consultations with states and experts. 

    The initiative will produce concrete and practical recommendations to meet these challenges.

    Each workstream will have outputs that will be determined together with participating states. 

    The ICRC will set up working groups to engage in consultations. They will include states and, where relevant, other stakeholders, such as military audiences, national societies, academic experts, and others.  

  • All states are encouraged to join the initiative. This is about the universality of IHL, and it is hoped that the entire international community will come together to reassert their commitment to upholding the rules and principles of IHL. The states that launched the initiative will have a primary role in convening other interested states and in generating interest and active participation for the initiative. 

    Interested states can express their willingness to support and join the initiative by contacting the closest ICRC delegation through their capital or ICRC headquarters directly through their permanent mission in Geneva. Each interested state will be able to participate in the consultations and be active in different workstreams. There is no financial contribution requested from states in order to join the initiative.

    You can also send an email IHLinitiative@icrc.org.

  • The ICRC has the mandate to work for the faithful application of IHL, for the understanding and dissemination of knowledge of IHL, and to prepare any development of IHL. Throughout its history, the ICRC has launched initiatives to strengthen IHL. This initiative is an additional endeavour launched by 6 states together with the ICRC, triggered by the stark observation that more needs to be done to increase respect for IHL and prevent violations.

    The ICRC will organize the consultations, with the support of states and other partners, such as academic institutions or others. The ICRC will provide legal and technical expertise.