Countries from South Asia and Iran join regional IHL Conference in Colombo

Keynote address by Foreign Affairs Minister 

M.U.M. Ali Sabry

Opening remarks by ICRC Delegation Colombo Head Severine Chappaz

Participants at the conference

A panel discussion in progress

Audience at the opening ceremony

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Government of Sri Lanka co-hosted the 12th South Asia Conference on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on the theme “Protection of Persons in Contemporary Armed Conflicts: IHL Before, During, and After Armed Conflict” in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 9 to 11 August.

The Conference brought together 40 government officials and experts from States of South Asia and Iran. Organised annually since 2009, the event aims to create a regional forum for states to deliberate and exchange perspectives on new dimensions and emerging issues of IHL. 

At the opening ceremony on 9 August, Foreign Affairs Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of implementing IHL in post-conflict situations for addressing humanitarian issues arising from armed conflict. 

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary U. L. M. Jauhar, who drew attention to the remaining humanitarian needs in Sri Lanka while appreciating the contribution of the ICRC for IHL implementation in Sri Lanka.

Delivering the opening remarks, Colombo ICRC delegation Head Séverine Chappaz, highlighted the importance of upholding and strengthening further the rules aimed at protecting the life and dignity of people affected by armed conflicts and referred to the role of the ICRC, a neutral and impartial organisation which has played a key role since the 19th century in supporting states in the development of International Humanitarian Law. 

During the conference, legal experts and State representatives discussed various issues in the different sessions on urban warfare, upholding human dignity in armed conflict, detention at sea, protection of persons with disability in armed conflict, accounting for the separated, the missing and the dead, as well as IHL and the digital domain. 

In the spirit of the “Bringing IHL Home” Resolution adopted at 2019 International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, participating states also shared good practices, the progress they have made, and the challenges encountered in putting in place legal, administrative, and practical measures to give effect to IHL.