All States and parties to armed conflict must fully comply with their obligations under IHL, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The principles of humanity, military necessity, distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and the prohibition of unnecessary suffering, must be upheld in both international and non-international armed conflicts – without exception, and irrespective of whether the other party or parties abide by them.
Yet, in many armed conflicts across the world, these fundamental principles are not being upheld. We are witnessing a growing gap between the binding legal obligations under international humanitarian law and realities on the ground. The result is inconceivable and unconscionable suffering and destruction. The international community bears a collective responsibility to act urgently to stem the tide of IHL violations. It is essential to reinforce credible, effective, and impartial means to ensure accountability for breaches of IHL and to prevent impunity.
The Global Initiative was launched out of a necessity to act quickly and decisively. Its core goal is to enhance political commitment to IHL and promote its universal, uniform and faithful application at global, regional and domestic levels. The Initiative also aims at deepening reflections on existing and contemporary challenges to IHL.
Today’s meeting in New York is a new milestone towards the success of this initiative, which will produce concrete and practical recommendations and culminate with a high-level meeting to uphold humanity in war in 2026. Steadfast efforts are underway, and each of us is proactively engaged to achieve this goal. Comprehensive consultations with States and experts have already been kickstarted through seven workstreams on key issues such as prevention good practices, national IHL committees, IHL and peace, protecting civilian infrastructure, achieving meaningful protection of hospitals, upholding IHL in the use of information and communication technologies, and naval warfare. We commit to uphold IHL and to reinforce its implementation in all of these domains.
We call on all High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to join us in reaffirming that the application of international humanitarian law must be universal, impartial, and consistent. We must all live up to our collective responsibility to abide by and uphold IHL, to preserve humanity in armed conflicts, and to work toward a just and peaceful future.
