GOVERNMENTS leading a global push to strengthen the laws of war warned that rising civilian deaths, mounting attacks on hospitals and the rapid growth of cyberweapons demand urgent international action to uphold humanitarian norms.
A new progress report on the Global Initiative on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) outlines proposals aimed at curbing violations and reinforcing accountability.
The measures include updating military training, building stronger national oversight systems, and addressing risk factors for potential abuses before they escalate.
States also called for embedding IHL principles into peace accords and taking concrete steps to prevent — and verify — attacks on medical facilities, a growing concern in recent conflicts.
“The Geneva Conventions were designed to shield civilians, prisoners of war and those no longer fighting. Their protective power must be upheld,” said International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric.
The report follows a joint appeal from the leaders of Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, who urged all nations to confront what they described as a surge in “widespread violations” of IHL.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, the leaders called on governments to enshrine IHL in national legislation, invest in compliance, and empower domestic committees to oversee its implementation.
“We were driven by a deep sense of responsibility and urgency to act decisively to stem the tide of violations the world is witnessing,” the founding states said in a joint statement.
According to the report, more than 130 countries took part in consultations over the past year, with 90 formally joining the initiative and 27 co-leading seven thematic work streams on modern challenges to IHL — from urban warfare to cyber conflict.
The ICRC pointed out that adherence to humanitarian law remains the strongest defense against atrocities in war.
“Placing civilians, humanitarian workers and hospitals at avoidable risk cannot be justified as military necessity,” the report said.
The initiative is expected to conclude with a high-level meeting in 2026, during which participating states will evaluate progress and renew their collective pledge to uphold humanity in war. (ICRC)
