It was attended by civil servants representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Philippines, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The objectives of the meeting were to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Adoption in June 1977 of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of August 1949 (“the Additional Protocols”), encourage ratification and accession of States not parties, and highlight issues pertaining to national implementation of international humanitarian law.
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Beijing. Symposium marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the 1977 Additional Protocols. Welcome address by Jacques Forster, then vice-president of the ICRC.
Speakers representing State parties shared their perspectives, practice and opinions on the Additional Protocols. Speakers from several States not parties to the Additional Protocols expressed the current position of their countries on these instruments and prospects for accession.
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Mr. Denis Allistone, Head of ICRC Regional Delegation for
The presentations and discussions highlighted the following points and the subsequent conclusions were adopted:
1. International humanitarian law is an important body of international law as it protects vulnerable persons and property that are, or may be, affected by an armed conflict.
2. The main treaties of international humanitarian law are the Geneva Conventions which have been universally ratified by States. The First Additional Protocol has been ratified or acceded to by 167 States to date, and the Second Additional Protocol by 163 States. They are among the most widely ratified international instruments.
3. The ICRC was encouraged to note that a number of States participating in the Symposium that have not acceded to either Additional Protocols are currently considering the possibility of doing so.
4. National measures of implementation of international humanitarian law are steps that should be considered. For States parties, these include measures to implement the Additional Protocols.
5. Among States that participated in the symposium, five have established national IHL inter-ministerial committees to facilitate the adoption of measures of national implementation of international humanitarian law. Others are considering the possibility of doing so. Currently, 81 States worldwide have established such Committees.
6. Among States that participated in the symposium, four have recognised the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC). There are 69 States that have recognised the competence of the IHFFC worldwide.
7. States who are contributing troops to peace operations have a special interest in the implementation of international humanitarian law and should ensure that their troops receive appropriate training in relation to their deployment.
The Participants thanked the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ICRC for the organisation of this important event and the warm welcome they received in Beijing.
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