RED CROSS ORGANIZES REGIONAL FORUM IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

In observance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Day this August 12 in the Philippines , the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has convened the 2nd Regional forum on IHL at Traders' Hotel, Roxas Blvd. from August 10 to 12, 2008.

In his opening remarks, PNRC Chairman Senator Richard Gordon, said that the international gathering aims to provide Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies in the Asian region with a venue to discuss ways to improve and strengthen the role of national Red Cross organizations in the implementation, advocacy and respect for IHL in coordination with their respective governments.

The ten National Red Cross Societies attending the 2nd regional forum this year are from China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Chairman Gordon, emphasized that, "National Societies disseminate and assist their governments in disseminating IHL; they take initiatives in this respect. They should propose that an Interdepartmental Committee be formed in their country, composed of Government representatives and representatives of the Red Cross to evolve and implement adequate means to the systematic dissemination of the Geneva Conventions in the armed forces, universities, among young people, and also to the civilian population."

PNRC Secretary-General, Corazon Alma de Leon, in her message to the delegates said: "As National Societies, our role is to assist the government in the promotion of the Geneva Conventions. Thus, after this forum, we should have gained new ideas and tools we can bring back to our respective countries. Speaking of cooperation, this is really the essence of why we are here - to share our experiences and see how we can best work together - the NS and the ICRC, and the NS between themselves to develop the promotion of IHL and in particular - the Geneva Conventions."

August 12 is celebrated in the Philippines as International Humanitarian (IHL) Day by virtue of Executive Order 134 from 1999 to commemorate the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions to which it is based. Today, 194 countries are Parties to the Geneva Conventions, making them a truly universal and powerful legal instrument.