Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T01:21:16.342Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The 125th anniversary of the International Review of the Red Cross — A Faithful Record — II. Victories of the Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

Jacques Meurant
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The first issue of the Bulletin international des Sociétés de secours aux militaires blessés (October 1969) contains an appeal by the International Committee for ratification of the Articles of 1868 additional to the 1864 Geneva Convention. It is addressed to the Central Committees of the Relief Societies, with the request that they approach their respective governments on the matter. By the same token, the Committee proposed as recommended reading the work by Gustave Moynier, Etude sur la Convention de Genève, which was described as a guide for use by army officers and doctors to give them a better understanding of the provisions of the 1864 Convention, “to refute the objections of its detractors and, by demonstrating that this instrument represents a victory for civilization, to turn them into zealous supporters”. In the second issue of the Bulletin (January 1870), the Committee asked the Central Committees to what extent States had promulgated penal or other legislation and military ordinances or regulations relating to the stipulations of the Geneva Convention or action by relief societies.

Type
Contributions to History
Information
International Review of the Red Cross (1961 - 1997) , Volume 35 , Issue 306 , June 1995 , pp. 282 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Part I of this article, “Protection and Assistance”, appeared in the International Review of the Red Cross (IRRC), No. 303, November–December 1994, pp. 532–541.

References

1 Revue internationale de la Croix-Rouge (RICR), No. 404, 08 1952, pp. 646–669. at p. 666.Google Scholar

2 “Ratification des articles additionnels à la Convention de Genève”, pp. 6–7.Google Scholar

3 Moynier, Gustave, Etude sur la Convention de Genève, Librairie Joël Cherbuliez, Paris, 1870, 376 pp.Google Scholar

4 Ibid., p. 10.

5 “Questions adressées aux Comités centraux”, pp. 62–64.Google Scholar

6 Over time, the Review has gradually specialized in humanitarian law, and is probably the only multilingual, international journal to deal with this body of law on a regular basis. However, it is encouraging to note that in recent years National Societies and academic institutions have launched international reviews on humanitarian law, sometimes jointly. Furthermore, an increasing number of international and national reviews on public international law are giving wider coverage to humanitarian law and humanitarian activities.

7 Moynier, Gustave, op. cit., p. 19.Google Scholar

8 See Article 5, paras. 2 and 3, of the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Article 4, paras. 1 and 2, of the Statutes of the ICRC (of 20 January 1988). Furthermore, Article 3 of the ICRC Statutes of 10 March 1921 had already stipulated that the goal of the ICRC was to coordinate efforts to relieve the victims of war, sickness and civil disaster.

9 Pictet, Jean, “The principles of international humanitarian law”, IRRC, No. 66, 09 1966, p. 462.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

10 Huber, Max, “Le droit des gens et l'humanité”, op. cit., p. 666.Google Scholar

11 Boissier, Edmond, “Morale internationale et Croix-Rouge”, RICK, No. 249, 05 1923, p. 449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

12 Moynier, Gustave was President of the International Committee from 1864 to 1910. He was also the Bulletin's first editor, a position he held until 1898.Google Scholar

13 Fielet, Jean, “The need to restore the laws and customs relating to armed conflicts”, IRRC, No. 102, 09 1969, pp. 459–483, at p. 478 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

14 See previous article in this series (note*), pp. 534–535.

15 19th International Conference of the Red Cross, New Delhi, October–November 1957, Proceedings concerning Draft Rules for the limitation of the dangers incurred by the civilian population in time of war, Geneva, 04 1958 (mimeographed), 199 Google Scholar pp. See also IRRC, 10 1956.Google Scholar

16 Petitpierre, Max, “A contemporary look at the International Committee of the Red Cross”, IRRC, No. 119, 02 1971, pp. 63–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

17 Pilloud, Claude, “The concept of international armed conflict: further outlook”, IRRC, No. 166, 01 1975, pp. 7–16, at p. 9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 Claude Pilloud, ibid., p. 13.

19 See Veuthey, Michel, “Military instructions on the treatment of prisoners in guerrilla warfare”, IRRC, No. 132, 03 1972, pp. 125–137, at p. 137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

20 Sommaruga, Cornelio, “The Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions: a quest for universality”, IRRC, No. 258, 05–06 1987, p. 245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

21 Gasser, Hans-Peter, “Steps taken to encourage States to accept the 1977 Protocols”. IRRC, No. 258, 05–06 1987, p. 266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

22 Quoted by Ruegger, Paul, “Gustave Moynier”, IRRC, No. 178, 01 1976, p. 6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

23 The text of the “Fundamental rules of humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts” is reproduced in IRRC, No. 206, 09–10 1978, pp. 247–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

24 Some examples:

— Nahlik, Stanislaw E., “A brief outline of international humanitarian law”, IRRC, No. 241, 07–08 1984, pp. 187–226 (offprint with bibliography)CrossRefGoogle Scholar

— Jean de Preux, Synopses I to IX, published in the Review between 1985 and 1989 (complete offprint)

— Technical note on the Protocols of 8 June 1977 additional to the Geneva Conventions, IRRC, No. 242, 09–10 1984, pp. 274–277 Google Scholar

25 Vasak's, Karel “Conclusions” to the collective work International Dimensions of Humanitarian Law, UNESCO, Pedone, Paris/Henry Dunant Institute, Geneva, 1986, p. 297.Google Scholar

26 For example, between 1976 and 1993 over 1,000 high-ranking officers from 118 countries attended international courses for military officers on the law of armed conflict, organized by the San Remo Institute with the support of the ICRC. In this regard, the Institute's invaluable contribution to the development of the law cannot be overstated. As Jovica Patologie, Honorary President of the Institute, pointed out, “During the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law applicable in Armed Conflicts (1974 to 1977), the Institute organized annual round tables, between sessions of the Conference, at which those taking part in the Conference and others informally discussed the main issues and the means of resolving them. The ICRC gave its full support to this forum.” “Working for a humanitarian dialogue. The International Institute of Humanitarian Law celebrates its twentieth anniversary”, IRRC, No. 278, 09–10 1990, pp. 449–455, at p. 453 Google Scholar.

Round table meetings and seminars have been organized by the Institute jointly with the ICRC and other organizations for the purpose of discussing ways — like those described in this article — of revising, updating and adapting the law.

27 René Kosirnik, “Dissemination of international humanitarian law and of the principles and ideals of the Red Cross and Red Crescent”, and “Guidelines for the '90s”, IRRC, No. 287, 03–04 1992, pp. 173–178.Google Scholar

28 “Protection of the environment in armed conflicts”, statement by the ICRC to the 47th Session of United Nations the General Assembly on 1 October 1992, in Antoine Bouvier, “Recent studies on the protection of the environment in time of armed conflict”, IRRC, No. 291, 11–12 1992, note 36, p. 565.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

29 At the conclusion of her article, “The protection of children during armed conflict situations”, Sandra Singer exclaims: “What is needed is not more laws to protect the child in armed conflict situations. What is needed is dissemination and implementation of existing international humanitarian law”, IRRC, No. 252, 05–06 1986, pp. 133–167, at 166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

30 Torrelli, Maurice, “From humanitarian assistance to ‘intervention on humanitarian grounds’?”, IRRC, No. 288, 05–06 1992, pp. 228–248 CrossRefGoogle Scholar. On this subject, see also: Yves Sandoz, “‘Droit’ ou ‘devoir d'ingérence’ and the right to assistance: the issues involved”, ibid., pp. 215–227; and Denise Plattner, “Assistance to the civilian population: the development and present state of international humanitarian law”, ibid., pp. 249–263.

31 “Guiding Principles on the Right to Humanitarian Assistance”, IRRC, No. 297, 11–12 1993, pp. 519–525.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

32 “Entry into force of the amended version of Annex I to Protocol I, concerning technical means of identifying medical units and transports”, IRRC, No. 298, 01–02 1994, pp. 27–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

33 Cauderay, Gérald, “Means of identification for protected medical transports”, IRRC, No. 300, 05–06 1994, p. 277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

34 Frei, Daniel, “International Humanitarian Law and Arms Control”, IRRC, No. 267, 11–12 1988, pp. 491–504, at p. 497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

35 IRRC, No. 278, 09–10 1990, pp. 383–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

36 See special issue of the Review, No. 299, 03–04 1994, pp. 93–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

37 Harroff-Tavel, Marion, “Action taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross in situations of internal violence”, IRRC, No. 294, 05–06 1993, p. 220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

38 “ICRC protection and assistance activities in situations not covered by international humanitarian law”, IRRC, No. 262, 01–02 1988, pp. 9–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

39 Meron, Theodor, “Draft Model Declaration in internal strife”, and Gasser, Hans-Peter, “A measure of humanity in internal disturbances and tensions: proposal for a Code of Conduct”, IRRC, No. 262, 01–02 1988, pp. 38–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

40 IRRC, No. 282, 05–06 1991, pp. 328–336.Google Scholar

41 Gasser, Hans-Peter, “Some Reflections on the Future of International Humanitarian Law”, IRRC, No. 238, 01–02 1984, pp. 18–25, at p. 24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

42 Ibid.

43 Veuthey, Michel, “Guerrilla warfare and humanitarian law”, IRRC, No. 234, 05–06 1983, p. 136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

44 Moynier, Gustave, op. cit., pp. 30–31.Google Scholar

45 Section to follow:

III — The Movement: solidarity and unity