National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines 19 SOLIDARITY MESSAGE ATTY. CHAMAINEA. ENERVA Legal Officer International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) “Warm greetings to each and everyone. Thanks to the Commission on HumanRights and the CSITHL (Civil Society Initiative on International Humanitarian Law)for organizing the National Summit on IHL where the Geneva Conventions turns 60, which is an important milestone which teaches on how war was waged. Rights apply both in armed conflict and in times ofpeace. So, HR normsis a violation in times of “As recalled, in 1949, Statesmen in Geneva, public disturbance, whereasin IHLit is absolutely Switzerland organized to form three Geneva crafted as public emergencies which are armed Conventions and add the fourth - one which is conflict. Mostly, HR Law and IHL complement dedicated to the Protection of Civilians. Since as much as the Legal Laws. then, these treaties have been supplemented by the Additional Protocols and by important “In addition, IHL is also a protection ofpersons documentslike the customary humanitarian law. whoare in the powerofthe party to the conflict. On the other hand, it will show far more “Remarkably, the Conventions have been differences between the two bodies oflaw, but HR universally ratified, meaning, every single State law sometimes, is being more protective because in the world is a Party signatory to them. The ofitsfurther development. Geneva Conventions have been successful. They have saved human beings, giving comfort to “Lastly, today,there is aneedfor the development thousands of Prisoners of War and contributed of International Humanitarian Law in terms of to the promotion ofpeace.” national implementation. With this, the International Committee of the Red Cross IHL Applicability expresses “International Humanitarian Law is applicable governmentin the translation of International during armed conflict not like Human Rights Humanitarian Law into National Laws. They are which applies atall times bothforpeace time and also positive that it would happen because ofthe armed conflict. Secondly, HR Law and IHL vast majority ofpeople who supported the role faditionally bind different nations. While it is of the core principles of IHL. This clearly clear that IHL bindsparties to the conflict, it is manifests that knowledge of International more conventional than Human Rights Laws. Humanitarian Law is important. “Further, Human Rights, expressedas individual “Finally, thank you to the Commission on Human entitlements, has been understood to bind all Rightsfor giving me the opportunity to be a part ates. Underscoring its applicability, Human its commitment to assist the of this occasion.”