Civilian victims

«The meritorious activity of the institute finds an eloquent moment in the annual round table that, for almost half a century, has been dedicated to examining the questions posed to international humanitarian law (IHL) by contemporary events. This same edition, in recalling the historical need manifested almost two centuries ago to protect human rights even in the most difficult context, that of war, is confronted with sad and pressing current events. Thus begins the message of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, which dedicated its annual conference to From the Battle of Solferino in 1859 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Challenges and future prospects of international humanitarian law. The traditional "round table" of the Institute (which is based in Sanremo in the prestigious Villa Ormond), always organized in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva), is animated by the participation of over 200 diplomats, academics, officials of international organizations and officers of the armed forces of dozens of countries around the world.

The institute, an international body little known in Italy, which for over 50 years has organized conferences on the law of armed conflicts (in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese) attended by over 20 thousand officials from 190 countries, and courses on International law of refugees and migrations (for officials of governments and international organizations) has placed contemporary conflicts and the serious violations that are committed in the conduct of hostilities at the center of reflection and training activity.

The Head of State underlined that «In the first voluntary report on the implementation of international humanitarian law in Italy, recently published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian government unhesitatingly sides in favor of an extensive application of the rules of IHL, which limits the dramatic consequences of wars on the civilian population. Yes, because starting from the wars of the twentieth century, it was precisely the civilian population that suffered massacres and hardships».

The president also recalled that «international humanitarian law, with its conventions, the most ratified treaties on the planet, represents, on the contrary, a recognition of brotherhood that unites peoples, beyond conflicts. The aim is to put a stop to the slippery slope of the horrors of war».

Mattarella adds that «the ius in bello remains sadly topical, an indispensable tool to alleviate the consequences of increasingly wide-ranging borders, also for the new threats that arise: conflicts and radicalisms of alleged religious origin, terrorism, guerrilla warfare, organized crime, not to mention the return of the phenomenon of mercenaries. A worsening picture - almost superfluous to underline - due to the responsibility of those who, holding top government roles, knowingly decide to avoid the commitment to maintain international peace and security, so admirably defined in the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations».

The President expresses his concern for the fact of the war in Ukraine, «of extraordinary gravity, carried out by Russian aggression against the integrity and independence of Ukraine, deeply undermining the pillars of the international order and violating the most basic principles of coexistence between peoples and States. The fact that a war of aggression was unleashed by a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council therefore invested with greater responsibilities in the international forum makes all this even more serious. That unfortunate decision, in addition to creating a wound in the system of principles that regulates the international community, brings with it a burden of suffering and death that has afflicted an entire population for over two years and mainly falls on the weakest groups of the population, starting with minors deported and torn from their families".

Not only that, but «the protection of the civilian population, minors, women, the most fragile, a theme that also challenges consciences in Gaza. The Middle East, a land so rich in cultures and so close to us, continues to be torn apart by a conflict that cannot find a solution and that has reignited inhumanely since 7 October. Once again, those who pay the price are mainly those civilians that Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions, expressly removes from the violence of war by providing that they be treated humanely».

He then observes that «unfortunately we are witnessing a contrary dynamic: a daily bulletin of killings, destruction of infrastructures, including schools, hospitals and refugee camps, attacks against humanitarian workers, medical personnel, journalists, with the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people: all this questions us on those principles of proportionality and distinction between civilians and belligerents, which are the cornerstones of international humanitarian law. Added to this is the kidnapping and killing of defenseless Israeli hostages, which has reached new levels of horror in recent days».

The authoritative voice of the Head of State resounded loud and strong, wishing our Institute «good work, to learn to use, together, the language of humanity and not surrender to silence, the language that unites the victims".


NP December 2024
Edoardo Greppi