Egypt Hosts Regional Meeting to Strengthen National Implementation of International Humanitarian Law

The two-day workshop, organized by the Egyptian National Committee on IHL (NCIHL) in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), brought together heads and representatives of the national IHL committees of Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and Morocco, alongside the Egyptian NCIHL, to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical ways to advance the implementation of IHL at the national level.

The Egyptian Minister of Justice, Counsellor Mahmoud Helmy El-Sherif, inaugurated the meeting, highlighting the importance of bringing together IHL practitioners from across the region to share expertise and strengthen cooperation in fulfilment of the shared responsibility to protect people affected by armed conflict and uphold their rights and dignity.

“The developments and humanitarian and legal challenges facing the region call for redoubled efforts to promote respect for international humanitarian law and uphold its safeguards to protect human life and preserve our shared human heritage,” he said during the opening ceremony.

A central focus of the workshop was the role of national IHL committees in translating international obligations into national practice. Participants shared experiences and good practices on strengthening national frameworks, promoting wider understanding of IHL and fostering cooperation among the institutions responsible for its implementation.

The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL, launched in September 2024 by Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, together with the ICRC. The initiative seeks to renew political commitment to IHL and encourage concrete action to strengthen respect for the rules of war. To date, 120 States have officially joined the initiative, with States working together through seven thematic workstreams.

“We are pleased and grateful that several Arab states are playing leading roles in the initiative by co-chairing some of its workstreams. Your engagement is an important contribution to our collective efforts to ensure that IHL remains a strong and effective protection for people affected by armed conflict,” said Guy Bruyninx, Deputy Head of the ICRC delegation in Cairo. 

The second day focused on the domestic implementation of IHL, including the protection of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems and cultural property during armed conflict. Participants exchanged practical experiences on strengthening protection, addressing challenges and identifying areas for further progress.

The correct use and protection of the emblems are essential to ensuring that medical services and humanitarian personnel and facilities are recognized and protected, while protecting cultural property helps safeguard the heritage and identity of communities affected by war.

National IHL committees play an important role in supporting States in fulfilling their obligations under IHL. They can bring together relevant national institutions, advise on legal and policy measures, and promote wider dissemination and understanding of the law.

The workshop concluded with a discussion of a number of recommendations aimed at strengthening cooperation among Arab IHL committees and identifying practical ways to advance the implementation of IHL at the national level.

The Cairo workshop builds on a longstanding regional process of cooperation on IHL. It provided an important platform for sharing experience, advancing national efforts and strengthening regional cooperation towards a common objective: ensuring that IHL is not only reaffirmed in principle, but respected and implemented in practice.