Protecting rights during armed conflicts is vital

Arab region passing through difficult phase

KUWAIT CITY, March 27, (Agencies): Protecting human rights during armed conflicts is of paramount significance, Director of Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies (KIJS) Adel Abdullah Al-Issa said on Sunday.

In a speech at a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) course on international humanitarian law, Al-Issa said “the issue of human rights is of chief importance, at a time where the world is beset with rampant conflict and turmoil.” Al-Issa noted that it is imperative, whilst in conflict, to choose certain modes of combat that would ensure the safety of civilians.

Moreover, Deputy Head of Operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Rania Mashlab said that Kuwait was amongst the first nations to contribute to humanitarian causes during the course of the last 50 years.

Kuwait’s humanitarian missions have always aimed to assist victims of armed conflicts and civilians, who bear the brunt of the ill effects of war, Mashlab added.

She also underscored the importance of adhering to international laws, at a time where violations of these laws have become the norm rather than the exception, Mashlab noted.

It is incumbent upon nations to disseminate the tenets of international laws, so that to ensure strict adherence to these laws, she said.

The session is a by-product of years of cooperation between KIJS and the ICRC, one that has yielded a number of fruitful programs and courses, Mashlab said.

The five-day course, to feature participation of representatives of GCC nations, will tackle international humanitarian laws and ways to implement them. Also: