Hopes and challenges as ICRC celebrates 70th anniversary
KUWAIT: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) along with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 under the theme ‘Hopes and Challenges’. In a speech, Omar Odeh, head of ICRC’s regional delegation, highlighted the active role of Kuwait in humanitarian work in various areas around the world, saying he was happy to be part of the special celebrations.
“This celebration comes in light of the fifth anniversary of the UN honoring of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a ‘Humanitarian Leader’ and Kuwait as a ‘Humanitarian Center’. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) was conceived through the Geneva Conventions of 1949 after the long and bitter suffering of two world wars,” Odeh said, adding that the rules are meant to protect the safety, dignity and wellbeing of people affected by armed conflict, such as children, women, the elderly, injured and sick people, those with disabilities, and people who are detained.
“The conventions set down the fundamental obligation that people, even in times of armed conflict, must be treated with humanity. Enemies must see each other as human beings. Created to govern human behavior in the worst circumstances, the Geneva Conventions underscore our common humanity and the dignity of every human being, regardless of race, religion or any other circumstance,” he said. He pointed out that the core conviction is that humanity must be found even in armed conflict and that the individual must be respected in all circumstances.
Odeh also spoke about enforcing respect of the International Humanitarian Law, which is one of the main interests of the ICRC, as part of its work that aims at the protection of the life and dignity of victims of war. “When the First Geneva Convention was drafted, warfare mainly involved clashes between clearly uniformed and defined armed forces. Modern warfare still occasionally features such interstate confrontations, but as you all know, the trend in today’s armed conflicts is towards greater complexity,” he said.
Odeh said the protective power of the Geneva Conventions remains as crucial as ever merely to guarantee this protection all countries should start to put in place some measures in time of peace. “There’s no doubt that disseminating knowledge of the provisions of IHL among a large segment of the population and encouraging the adoption of national measures to implement it are necessary foundations for ensuring respect and strengthening this much-needed law,” he said.
“I’d like to praise the role of KRCS being a pioneer in this, and that together the ICRC can have a greater reach to the public. National IHL committees with the active membership of KRCS can play an efficient role in this regard - offering advice to national authorities on how to enforce this law in their countries. I would like to congratulate these committees in GCC countries in general, and the national committee for IHL in Kuwait in specific, on the tremendous efforts they exert in the activities done in coordination with the ICRC,” said Odeh.
According to Odeh, the regional delegation of the ICRC in Kuwait was established 26 years ago. “The main drive behind its establishment was the file of missing persons, and thanks to joint efforts of all relevant parties, the ICRC has achieved significant progress in which Kuwait has proven to be a capable and willing partner,” he added.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Abdul Aziz Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh, Director General of Saud Al-Nasser Diplomatic Institute, welcomed guests and thanked the people behind the program and for making Kuwait a special rapporteur of the ICRC. “We appreciate the ICRC, especially as the people of Kuwait recall ICRC with appreciation as it stands by families and countries in need,” he said.
Among the attendees were Ambassador Nasser Al-Hein, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Organizations, Dr Owaid Sari Al-Thuwaimer, Director of Kuwait Institute for Judiciary and Legal Studies, Adel Al-Essa, Secretary General of the Permanent National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, and Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Society.