International humanitarian law (IHL) can be defined as a set of rules that, in an ideal world, would help mitigate the horrors of war. This law is a bit like the rulebook for a deadly game, and the Geneva Conventions are its star players. These Conventions, crafted in the aftermath of World War II, have been the guardians of humanity during times of conflict. They’re like the world’s conscience, reminding us that even in the most brutal circumstances, some rules still apply.
However, reality often falls short. Current conflicts worldwide witness the blatant violation of IHL: civilians are targeted, humanitarian aid is obstructed and the use of chemical weapons has shocked the world. In such cases, the line between right and wrong becomes blurred, revealing a dire need for accountability.
Enter the International Criminal Court (ICC), a global judicial body responsible for bringing perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide to justice. The ICC serves as a beacon of hope for IHL enforcement. While not without controversy, it plays a crucial role in holding violators accountable.
Prevention is the final piece of this puzzle. Ideally, we should never need the ICC because conflicts shouldn’t occur in the first place. The best way to uphold IHL is to prevent wars and to promote peace and in this respect, diplomacy is the answer. It is time to demand a more inclusive and bold leadership from politicians. Worldwide population deserves international treaties and policies that pursue unity of purpose and investment in peaceful and pluralistic societies. But that will only happen when world leaders set aside differences entrenched in political interests to articulate discourses and make decisions that support the humanity of others. It is about time we had Global leaders we can feel proud of.
For that, we have to provide them with a cross-cultural education and a powerful multidisciplinary toolkit to properly address all these worldwide issues.
And we firmly believe that we can play our part in this!
