Red Cross to Convene Global Meeting on International Law Abuses

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Sunday that it will co-host a global high-level meeting in 2026 aimed at “upholding humanity in war”, amid widespread abuses of international law in conflicts worldwide.

In a joint statement issued with Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, the ICRC called on states and the international community to take action to curb violations of international humanitarian law (IHL).

“The world cannot stand idly as the basic tenets of international humanitarian law are routinely and deliberately being violated,” the statement said.

The ICRC launched the Global IHL Initiative a year ago in collaboration with the six countries, seeking to mobilise political support for the enforcement of international humanitarian law.

“We were driven by a deep sense of responsibility and urgency to act decisively to stem the tide of violations of international humanitarian law the world is witnessing,” the statement said.

Members of the initiative plan to co-host a global high-level meeting in 2026 to reaffirm the principles of humanity in armed conflicts.

The statement did not specify particular conflicts, emphasising instead that the initiative addresses all global conflicts, engages all relevant stakeholders, and aims to ensure universal and equitable application of IHL.

When the initiative was launched, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric told Le Temps she was deeply concerned about “the number of wounded and dead during the conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine,” describing the scale as “beyond our imagination.”

Since the Global IHL Initiative began, 89 states from all regions of the world have formally joined, the statement noted.

“All states, including those in situations of occupation, are bound to fully respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law,” it said.

The initiative urged world leaders to unite around a shared responsibility: to prevent atrocities and protect humanity during armed conflicts.

“Together, we can put an end to the inconceivable and unconscionable suffering and destruction that is the mark of today’s conflicts.”

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