Cyber warfare, autonomous weapons and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas are among the topics for the third Conference of National Committees on International Humanitarian Law of the Americas in Bogotá.
The meeting is taking place from 9 to 11 September. Representatives of the 19 National IHL Committees of the Americas will be attending: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Cuba, the USA, Spain and Switzerland will also be participating, represented by government experts. In addition, representatives of the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community and the International Fact-Finding Commission will be in attendance.
The role of the national committees is to advise governments on the application and dissemination of humanitarian rules. There will be presentations on the progress that these organizations have achieved, and on the challenges facing IHL in the region and elsewhere.
Topics to be addressed by experts from the ICRC and the committees at the conference include:
- Nuclear weapons
- Cyber warfare
- Autonomous weapons
- The Arms Trade Treaty: challenges regarding application at a nation level
- Use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas
- Anti-personnel mines, explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions
- Incorporation of IHL into domestic criminal law
- Missing persons
- People deprived of their freedom
- Sexual violence as a humanitarian problem
- Protecting medical services
Participation is restricted to invitees. Media representatives wishing to attend or conduct interviews are welcome to contact the ICRC in Bogotá or Geneva.
Media information:
Patricia Rey, ICRC Bogotá, tel: +57 311 491 07 89, @PReyCICR
Édgar Alfonso, ICRC Bogotá, tel: +57 311 491 07 75
Alexis Heeb, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 79 2187610, @AHeebICRC
Information for invitees:
Juan Bravo Coral, ICRC Bogotá, tel: +57 301 432 17 88, jbravocoral@icrc.org