National Summit on International Humanitarian Lawin the Philipppines 21 Concluding Statement Government of the Republic of the Philippines In his conclusion, in behalf of the CSI-IHL as one and its Armed Forces, the Communist Party of of the proponents of the present IHL Summit, he the Philippines and the New People’s Army, and extends his wish for everyonefor a meaningful and the MoroIslamic Liberation Front to continue substantive activity where the convergences go to bring into force, in the context of the peace beyond the coming days. “May their initiatives process, the Geneva Conventionsto the extent go beyondthe walls of the conference hall and appropriate to the respective armed conflict reachthe civilians and non-combatantsalike in while celebrating this occasion to honorthese the sites ofconflict, in the places where the IDPs Conventions. arelocated, in military camps, the schools and in the chambers ofgovernance andinto the hearts In this way, the highest standard ofthe so-called and mindsof the general public.” rules of war might be applied to the situations of armed conflict so that civilians and other He called on the major parties to the armed protected persons under IHL will benefit from conflict in the Philippines, namely, the better humanitarian protection. SOLIDARITY MESSAGE HONORABLE JUERG CASSERINI Chargé @’ Affaires Embassyof Switzerland Mr. Juerg Casserini greeted each and everyone and said that heis greatly honoured andprivileged to address the few groupsof personalities from the government of the Philippines, from politics, business, International Committee of the Red Cross, non-governmentorganizations and guests while celebrating the 60Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the International Conventionsfor the last 60 years. And respect of Humanitarian Law Day. International Humanitarian Law as well as the promotion and strengtheningofthis body oflaw “In the Four Geneva Conventions, it is an is one of the main objects of the Swiss foreign obligation to protect the victims ofmilitary action. policy. The philosophy ofthe Geneva Conventions For Switzerland, it is committed to ensure that dates back to the 19" centuryfollowing the Battle an obligation is respected. My country, of Solferino in 1859, where heavyloss of lives Switzerland, attached special importance to the occured. Avery significantperson, Henry Dunant anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. ofGeneva, born in 1828 anddied in 1910,initiated Switzerland has been the depository ofthe Geneva the first mission for the protection ofpersons in