ICRC evidence to UK parliament: Respecting law of war reduces suffering
The ICRC has emphasised the need for compliance with international humanitarian law in evidence before the UK parliament's International Development Committee.
ICRC senior policy advisor Markus Geisser appeared before the committee to feed into an inquiry on the global humanitarian system, ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit in May.
He also told the committee that "we risk a catalogue of inhumanity if the World Humanitarian Summit fails to transform the global response to crises."
Top of the ICRC's agenda was the need for widespread adherence to international humanitarian law. Arms bearers – both State forces and non-State armed groups – complying with the laws of war was the "single biggest way to reduce suffering in times of conflict and violence," he said.
ICRC senior adviser Markus Geisser gives evidence to the International Development Committee.
Geisser also explained that humanitarian problems do not always require humanitarian solutions. Only political solutions will reduce the loss of life and destruction of livelihoods in places such as Syria, the Central African Republic or Ukraine.
Watch the whole evidence session, which includes contributions from the ICRC.
ICRC input to the International Development Committee evidence session followed our submission of written evidence. That evidence formed our contribution to an inquiry on the Global Humanitarian System.
We also contributed to an inquiry into the allocation of resources at the UK Department for International Development.
