Thursday, August 11, 2016

August is International Humanitarian Law Month

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): August is International Humanitarian Law Month

In observance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with the Department of National Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Commission on Human Rights will hold a series of activities aimed at heightening public awareness and respect for IHL.

The IHL or Geneva Conventions of 1949 is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who or are no longer participating in hostilities such as the wounded combatants, shipwrecked members at sea, prisoners of war, and civilians.

All activities for this year’s IHL Month are geared to promote the principles of IHL and are anchored on the theme, “Mga Aral ng Nakaraan at Hamon sa Kasalukuyan (“IHL: Lessons of the Past, Challenges of the Present”).

During the official IHL Day, Aug. 12, IHL Fun Run, Blood letting activity, and IHL Human Formation will be held at Camp Aguinaldo where 1,500 personnel from DND, DFA, PNP, CHR, ICRC, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Navy are expected to participate.

The PRC NHQ and its chapters will also hold various activities such as:

IHL Rescue Day: Aug. 13, Comembo Makati hosted by Rizal Chapter

IHL Training: Aug. 16-17, DND Office

Symposium: Aug. 18, Lyceum of the Philippines Manila

Photo exhibit: Aug. 31- Starmall, Alabang

PRC chapters in Alaminos, La Union, Masbate, Agusan Del Sur, and Zamboanga City will hold a “Run/Walk/Zumba for Humanity,” while the Laguna Chapter will facilitate “Ride for Red: Bike for Humanity.”

A series of dissemination sessions in universities, government agencies and various organizations will be integrated by Quezon City, Caloocan, Camarines Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Bohol, Capiz, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Agusan Del Norte-Butuan City, Bukidnon, Davao Del Sur, and Misamis Oriental.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon, a staunch advocate of IHL and the author of Republic Act No. 9851 which defines and penalizes violations of International Humanitarian Law and other crimes against humanity, said that the commemoration of the international humanitarian rules also honors Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross Movement and main initiator of the Geneva Conventions.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912759

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