The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, has issued a stark warning regarding the widespread violation of the Geneva Conventions in ongoing global conflicts. In an interview with Swiss daily *Le Temps*, Spoljaric emphasized the urgent need for nations to reaffirm their commitment to international law.
Spoljaric lamented that international humanitarian law (IHL) is being “systematically trampled underfoot” by military leaders around the world. She cited the staggering casualties in recent conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, describing the scale of suffering as “beyond our imagination.”
As the guardian of the Geneva Conventions, which aim to provide humanitarian protections during armed conflict, the ICRC is finding its ability to access affected populations increasingly limited and manipulated. Spoljaric stressed that immediate action is essential to uphold IHL, which is designed to mitigate the impacts of war and safeguard civilians.
In a proactive step, the ICRC recently launched an initiative in collaboration with six countries—Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa—to rally political support for IHL. The Geneva Conventions, established in 1949 following World War II, represent humanity’s collective moral framework and are intended to transcend national boundaries and cultural differences.
Despite their foundational importance, Spoljaric noted that current global conflicts starkly illustrate a failure to respect these crucial legal standards. “The suffering we witness today in armed conflicts around the world is proof that respect for and compliance with their most fundamental rules are not being upheld,” she stated.
The new initiative aims to formulate concrete recommendations for preventing violations of IHL and enhancing protections for civilians and civilian infrastructure. The ICRC is also organizing a high-level international meeting scheduled for 2026, focused on the theme “Uphold Humanity in War.”
Spoljaric described the present situation as “extremely dangerous,” warning that the trauma inflicted by ongoing conflicts could have lasting repercussions for generations. She clarified that the objective is not to reinvent the Geneva Conventions—legal texts she regards as robust—but rather to compel states to implement them effectively.