Suchergebnisse

The international legal framework has traditionally been divided into a "state of war" and a "state of peace." Most contemporary authorities still insist upon sharp and tidy categorization in this area, although some would prefer a three-fold or a multi-fold division, instead of the standard two-fold split. This whole approach has come under attack in recent years.A division into "states" of "war" and "peace" should theoretically produce simplicity and clarity. Instead, however, it leads to hopeless complications. This is clear as soon as any attempt is made to define the "state of war."

The Henry Dunant Institute is inaugurating its collection of scientific works with an important book by F. Kalshoven which is reviewed in this issue. We are pleased to publish below a paper which this writer delivered at the International Congress on Humanitarian Law in San Remo last September. (Ed.)

The Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts opened in Geneva on 20 February 1974. This Conference was convened by the Swiss Government and is being attended by plenipotentiary representatives of 118 States Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Members of the United Nations, as well as by many observers for intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Conference will sit until 29 March to deal with two additional draft protocols to the Geneva Conventions, which the International Committee of the Red Cross has drawn up with a view to supplementing existing international humanitarian law in the light of recent developments in matters of war.

The 12th of August 1949 is without doubt one of the most important dates in humanitarian law and in the development of the idea of the protection of man. It was then that four new Conventions were adopted in Geneva relative to the protection of victims of armed conflicts. In so far as they express general condemnation of war crimes committed during the Second World War, as well as the determination to prevent their recurrence in any possible sort of future conflict, the Geneva Conventions must be regarded as a bastion for the protection of all victims of armed conflict as well as a serious warning to all those who might be disposed to make a misuse of force or violate humanitarian principles. This great victory of the humanitarian spirit and of the principles which it inspires, by virtue of which one should not only avoid inflicting suffering on those who are deprived of protection or on non-combatants, but one should also accord them assistance and care for them if necessary, is due to a large extent to the Red Cross. The forces of progress have given their support to this idea and have made possible its realization within the framework of the International Conventions of the Red Cross. The new Geneva Conventions, which in the evolution of humanitarian law at present represent a decisive phase in a given sector, constitute an extremely solid and complete legal code which has been meticulously drawn up and which is both logical and coherent.

It will be recalled that in August and September 1963 on the occasion of the Red Cross Centenary, conferences and seminars took place in Switzerland. The International Review analyzed the importance and significance of their results. Subsequently, it drew attention to the publications issued by the Centenary Commission of the Red Cross in Switzerland, as a result of these meetings, namely, the World Conference of Educators, the International Nursing Study Centre, and the International Red Cross Meeting of First Aiders.The same Commission has now published a further book devoted to the work of the "Seminar on the Activity of the Red Cross on Behalf of the Victims of Armed Conflicts". We believe our readers will be interested in this publication of which we give some extracts below. Let us first recall the significance of this seminar.