Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua; Fellow Panellists, and distinguished colleagues.
I am delighted to be here today to share reflections from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the British Red Cross, drawn from over 155 years of working together to respect international humanitarian law.
International humanitarian law – also known as the laws of war, or IHL - sets clear rules to follow amid the chaos of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not, or no longer, participating in hostilities and places limits on the means and methods of warfare.
The Geneva Conventions of 1949, the core treaties of international humanitarian law, have been ratified by every state. These universally ratified agreements seek to preserve a minimum of shared humanity, even in war. Their key principles transcend constitutions, borders, religions and cultures.
Yet the evidence before us is clear. Hospitals reduced to rubble. Civilian neighbourhoods destroyed. Lives lost.
Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law is in crisis.
With around 130 active armed conflicts worldwide, this is not an abstract legal issue. From Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar to Ukraine, and elsewhere, conflict is carving deep scars into the lives of millions of people.
But the suffering we witness in war zones is not inevitable. With strong political will, we can close the gap between the law and reality on the ground.
But why is political will so important?
It is important because compliance with international humanitarian law is first and foremost achieved at the domestic level. States must train and discipline their armed forces, empower their judiciaries to prosecute and punish violations, and cooperate with relevant institutions to ensure respect for IHL and accountability.
When conflict occurs, the signal sent to troops on the ground - that respect for IHL matters - must come from the highest political level. That signal is a crucial ingredient for compliance.
We need to make compliance with international humanitarian law the norm.
This is why, in September 2024, the ICRC, together with Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and the Commonwealth’s South Africa, launched a global initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law.
This initiative aims to make IHL a political priority at the global, regional and national levels, and to mobilise state leaders and all stakeholders to ensure IHL is part of every discussion on armed conflict and security.
The initiative will also develop practical recommendations identified through consultations across seven workstreams to address the most pressing humanitarian challenges in contemporary warfare, translating political commitment into concrete change on the ground.
The Global Initiative is an exceptional effort because the current situation demands it. It is not merely a response to today’s crises; it’s a proactive effort to secure a future in which the fundamental rules of war are respected and upheld.
Since its launch, the Global IHL Initiative has gained significant momentum. 100 States have pledged their support, with several Commonwealth countries taking on co-chair roles across a range of the Initiative’s workstreams, including, Australia and Kenya on prevention good practices; the United Kingdom on National IHL Committees; Sierra Leone on the protection of civilian infrastructure; and Pakistan on the protection of hospitals.
Two rounds of all-state consultations were held in 2025, with over 154 countries participating and more than 500 statements delivered, many by Commonwealth countries represented here today.
A progress report published in October 2025 summarised these consultations and will inform the Initiative’s final recommendations.
Some preliminary takeaways from the progress report are worth highlighting.
First, across all workstreams, states expressed concern over the persistent violations of IHL in contemporary conflicts, while strongly reaffirming that the respect for its rules remains the only viable route to safeguarding human dignity in war and providing a pathway for durable peace.
Second, discussions in the workstreams did not treat IHL as a purely legal or technical framework. They instead emphasised IHL’s protective and humanitarian nature.
Third, despite acknowledging the current challenges facing the multilateral system, states consistently supported strengthening international and regional cooperation. Sharing good practices and building mutual trust and respect among all states were presented as key to the effectiveness of the international legal framework and IHL.
Finally, a clear message emerged from the consultations: promoting respect for IHL must be a political imperative in every state, echoing the very call of the initiative. Committing to uphold the rules of war needs to be translated into concrete actions across all levels of decision-making.
The third round of consultations is currently underway. Following its conclusion, the co-chairing states and the ICRC will work together to propose concrete and practical recommendations for each of the seven workstreams. The Initiative will then culminate in a landmark global conference on Humanity in War towards the end of 2026.
The Global Initiative demonstrates what states can achieve when they work together to strengthen respect for International Humanitarian Law. And it’s not too late to join.
Joining the Initiative does not entail additional commitments; rather it is a reaffirmation of a state’s political support for IHL, and you can join by sending a note verbale, or email, to the ICRC Headquarters in in Geneva.
Standing here in Fiji, it would be remiss of me not to reflect on the momentum being generated in this very region - with the Marshall Islands the most recent Pacific Island State joining the Initiative.
In this effort, every voice counts. And we’re only just getting started.
Which is why I want to thank the Government of Fiji and the Commonwealth Secretariat for convening us today to discuss: “Working Together to Respect Human Rights and Humanitarian Law”.
Regional and multilateral dialogue on IHL - such as today’s event, and events such as the Commonwealth Red Cross Red and Crescent Conference on IHL - fosters a culture of compliance with IHL that is grounded in shared responsibility and practical action. For example, the Commonwealth Joint Pledge adopted at the 6th Commonwealth and Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference in 2024, reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s shared commitment to enhancing the implementation and promotion of IHL in the face of evolving global challenges - reinforcing respect for IHL. And every time we reaffirm the laws of war, we reaffirm our common humanity.
Remembering this common humanity remains essential at a time of compounding global challenges. Tensions between states are rising, even as our interdependence deepens.
Creating the conditions for peace is among the most important responsibilities of states.
Once unleashed, unrestrained violence generates wider and often unexpected global security risks. To put it simply: it is in every states’ interest to uphold international humanitarian law to protect the security of their own people. Respect for IHL during armed conflict not only mitigates the impact of the hostilities but it can facilitate dialogue and trust between parties, thereby helping peace negotiations and eventual reconciliation.
Working together to respect International Humanitarian Law must continue beyond 2026 -and beyond the Global Initiative.
So, aside from joining the Initiative, what can states do?
Well first and foremost, compliance begins at home.
States are bound to take both legal and practical measures to ensure compliance with their IHL obligations. This involves enacting certain measures in peacetime to ensure that government authorities, military personnel and the broader population are familiar with the rules of IHL and that the necessary legal frameworks, administrative structures and processes are in place.
This requires action in three key areas.
First, disseminating IHL – so that both soldiers and civilians understand these rules. As an example, the British Red Cross runs an annual IHL Summer School at Cambridge University for members of the armed forces, government officials, academics and other professionals working in IHL. This training contributes to the development of an informed and capable community of practitioners dedicated to upholding IHL.
Second, adopting the necessary legal and administrative frameworks, including translating and integrating IHL into national laws, regulations and military doctrine, and identifying or establishing authorities and processes needed to ensure full respect for IHL. A key component of this is ratification of IHL treaties, including, for example, the Additional Protocols of 1977.
Third, implementing practical measures such as building relevant infrastructure, allocating sufficient resources and training personnel.
The resolution ‘Bringing IHL home: a road map for better national implementation of international humanitarian law’ adopted at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent provides a valuable framework these efforts. It also highlights the importance of states sharing good practices and learning from each other.
I invite all of you here today, to join the ICRC and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – as well as the many Commonwealth states represented in this room – in continuing to work together to ensure respect for IHL.
The avoidance of war is imperative. But when wars do occur, respect for international humanitarian law remains the only way to preserve a minimum of humanity, prevent the worst atrocities, and ultimately pave the way back to peace and prosperity.
This is a decisive time for the world.
Let us all answer the call of this moment – together.
