protecting people international humanitarian law 2 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 3

International and need to know their responsibilities. The contribution of Wounded in Armies in the Field’, was agreed • Australians are increasingly travelling to by 12 nations. Humanitarian Law overseas for business or tourism, and Henry Dunant should know what their rights are if they The red cross on a white ground, the reverse are caught up in armed conflict. of the Swiss flag, became the international Armed conflict is a tragic reality of the Rules of war have existed across all emblem of protection, and the identifying • Every day Australians watch television modern world, as it has been since ancient cultures and religions since the earliest times. symbol of a new worldwide organisation and read about overseas events. Issues times. During times of war, injury, loss of life Often they were informal understandings of IHL such as war crimes are very of neutral volunteers. Thus, from the very and the destruction of property are inevitable. and principles, codes of chivalry and honour, topical and it is in the interest of the beginning, the Red Cross Movement and However, the international community has or ad hoc agreements negotiated on the IHL have been inextricably linked and have acknowledged that there are limits, even to public to have an understanding of these subjects. battlefield. Modern IHL is different, in that developed side by side. warfare, and has developed rules that protect the customs of war have been written down those not taking part in the fighting and that The law states that governments must and formally agreed to as international law by restrict the way wars are fought. spread knowledge of IHL as widely as nation states. These rules, known as international possible and grants the Red Cross a The Geneva This idea began on 24 June 1859 in humanitarian law (IHL), the laws of war or the mandate to help in this task. Australian Red Solferino, a town in northern Italy, where Conventions and law of armed conflict (LOAC) are primarily Cross has been requested to assist the found in the four Geneva Conventions of Australian government in ‘spreading the French, Italian and Austrian troops were Additional Protocols 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 word’. fighting. After only a few hours 40,000 and 2005. All nations of the world have now people were left wounded or dead. The accepted the four Conventions as binding For information on Red Cross events, sight of the sick and wounded appalled There are over 570 sections, called Articles, upon them under international law. seminars, resources and ways volunteers Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman set out in the Geneva Conventions and may become involved, please contact the travelling in the region. He set about helping Additional Protocols. Each Convention has a The International Red Cross and Red IHL program, Australian Red Cross, in your Crescent Movement has specific them, regardless of their nationality, and specific area of protection: capital city. (For contact details, refer to the responsibilities under the Geneva called on the local population to join him with back page.) • First Convention: Protects wounded and Conventions. Australian Red Cross wants the rallying cry ‘Tutti fratelli’ (‘All men sick members of the armed forces on you to know more about these international are brothers’). agreements for a number of reasons: land, the medical personnel attached On his return to Switzerland, Henry to the armed forces who care for them, • Throughout the world the Movement is Dunant, unable to forget the horrors he had medical equipment, transports and sites. committed to ensuring that the victims witnessed, wrote a book called ‘A Memory Religious personnel are also protected. of war are protected. By ensuring more of Solferino’ proposing measures to limit the Adopted in 1864; people know about IHL, the Movement suffering in wartime. Dunant’s book led to • Second Convention: Protects wounded, hopes that the effects of war will be the creation of a five-member commission, sick and shipwrecked members of minimised and the degree of suffering in which, in 1863, became the Geneva-based the armed forces at sea, and their the world reduced. International Committee of the Red Cross medical and religious personnel. Adopted • has ratified numerous treaties (ICRC). in 1906; relating to IHL. To ensure Australia fulfils • Third Convention: Protects prisoners-of- its obligations, it is important that all In 1864 the ICRC succeeded in persuading sectors of the community understand the Swiss Government to convene an war (POWs). Adopted in 1929; international conference. Sixteen countries • Fourth Convention: Protects civilians and champion the cause of IHL, both An ICRC delegate talks to an Australian soldier on exercise nationally and internationally. in Queensland about IHL. Photo: Australian Red Cross participated and the tangible result was the in enemy territory or in territory under • Members of the Australian Defence Force First Geneva Convention. This treaty, for occupation. Front cover: An Iraqi woman and her child moments the ‘Amelioration of the Condition of the are ever more likely to serve overseas as after soldiers raided their house. Photo: AFP/Roberto part of peacekeeping and other missions, Schmidt 4 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 5

In 1949, when the fourth Geneva degrees depending on whether the conflict the emblem is their very protection, since Convention was adopted, the first three is of an international or internal nature. the organisation’s neutrality means their Who is protected? were revised and aligned into the form in However, in all conflicts the following acts are staff cannot carry any weapons nor be which they are found today. Thus prohibited: murder, rape, torture, corporal accompanied by armed escorts. Wounded, sick and shipwrecked they are the Geneva Conventions of 12 punishment, outrages against personal combatants are individuals no longer August 1949. dignity, taking of hostages, collective As early as 1876 some nations objected capable of taking part in the conflict. They punishment, executions without trial and to the use of the red cross, mistakenly should not be attacked if they have laid Nearly three decades later, two Additional cruel and degrading treatment of people. believing it to be a Christian symbol. down their weapons. Sick and wounded Protocols were created to provide increased These nations adopted the red crescent combatants must be searched for, protection for victims of war, especially as an alternative. Its use as a protective collected and treated humanely. They must civilians. IHL needed to be kept up to date emblem was recognised in 1929 and is now receive, to the fullest extent possible, the with the weaponry and tactics of modern The emblems also governed by the Geneva Conventions medical attention and care required by warfare, especially those used in post- and Protocols. their condition. No distinction or priority of colonial conflicts. medical treatment should be made other In 2005, an additional emblem of protection than on medical grounds. Not treating a • Additional Protocol I: Covers international known as the red crystal was adopted wounded soldier because he is the enemy armed conflict (fighting between two for use in situations where neither the red is illegal. or more countries, or wars of national cross nor the red crescent is accepted liberation). It adds to the protections as a neutral emblem. When displayed on of the Fourth Geneva Convention – for Central to the whole system of IHL is the the armband, hospital, aircraft etc, the red example protecting the environment, particular significance of the protective cross, the red crescent and the red crystal prohibiting attacks on civilian items emblems on a white background – the carry exactly the same legal protection. necessary for them to survive (for red cross, red crescent and red crystal. example, water) and prohibiting certain In Australia it is a criminal offence to use any methods of warfare, like starvation of the As the international emblems of protection emblem of protection without permission civilian population. in armed conflict, they designate medical from the Minister for Defence. Even relief and care for the wounded on all sides. Australian Red Cross is restricted in its use • Additional Protocol II: Applies in times of Medical units, including hospitals, tents, of the emblem. Because the red cross is internal armed conflict or civil war. Both depots and stores which display one of far more than a logo, trademark or brand, Protocols were adopted in 1977. these emblems, are protected and should Australian Red Cross can only use it in a Australian Army medical personnel give first aid. not be attacked. On the other hand, misuse small ‘indicative’ sense to mark the activities Photo: Australian Defence Force • In 2005 Additional Protocol III was of an emblem (eg firing from the surrounds and work of the national society. Doctors, adopted. It adds a third emblem of of a marked hospital) results in protection pharmacists, businesses and advertisers Bodies must be identified and death protection for situations of armed conflict. being lost. are not permitted to use the red cross as a confirmed (if possible by medical examination) The red cross and red crescent were now sign for hospitals, surgeries, first aid kits or before burial or cremation. Grave sites are to joined by the ‘red crystal’ - a red frame in Unfortunately, misuse means that members any health or ‘helping’ products. The be marked and maintained. the shape of a square on edge on a white of the military may be less likely to observe red cross may be a symbol of medical background. or trust an emblem in the future. Deliberate activity, but only in the very specific Medical and religious personnel are non- misuse (eg carrying armed troops on a circumstances of armed conflict and only combatants who are to be respected and protected at all times. Medical personnel hospital ship) is called perfidy, a serious for authorised personnel. When does IHL apply? war crime. The red cross emblem is also include those exclusively assigned (on a vital in protecting International Committee permanent or temporary basis) to medical When armed conflict breaks out the of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegates as they services. This includes those directly Conventions and Protocols apply in varying move through zones of conflict. Indeed involved in delivering medical aid (doctors, nurses, stretcher-bearers and orderlies) 6 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 7

Prisoners-of-war communication with their families, visits from the ICRC, and repatriation as soon as the conflict is over. They must be protected from The people entitled to prisoner-of-war violence, torture (physical or psychological), status include: reprisals, being forced to do military tasks for the enemy, insults and public curiosity. • members of national armed forces These points and many others, such as • members of military groups (including those about discipline and punishment, the organised resistance movements), organisation of POW representatives and provided that they are commanded by command structure, are set out by the law in a person responsible for subordinates, considerable detail. wear a distinctive sign, bear arms openly It is important to note that protection for and follow the laws and customs of war detainees in internal armed conflict also • the crews of merchant ships and exists but the legal provisions of Additional civil aircraft Protocol II are far less detailed. During internal conflict the ICRC is often able to • combatants, such as guerrillas, provided negotiate access into detention facilities they carry arms openly during each around the world using its ‘right of initiative’. military engagement. They must be Common Article 3 (‘common’ because it is visible to the adversary during military repeated in each of the four Conventions) deployment before an attack in which sets out the minimum or base-line standards they are to participate to be applied in all circumstances and in • persons who accompany the armed both international and internal conflict. Red forces without actually being members, Cross considers categories such as ‘illegal such as supply contractors and combatant’ to describe someone who Civilian buildings damaged by shelling in Gaza. Photo: ICRC accredited war correspondents. is detained as unhelpful. No one who is detained falls outside the boundaries and Persons who do not have, or lose, the protections of IHL. as well as administrators, cooks, drivers issued and stamped by the relevant military status of prisoner-of-war are: and the like, provided they are specifically authority. Such personnel also carry a assigned to medical units. special water-resistant identity card which • combatants who do not carry states in what capacity the individual is arms openly Civilians Religious personnel, whether military entitled to protection. They may carry small • spies captured in civilian clothes or or civilian, includes those of all faiths – As people taking no active part in hostilities, arms for their own defence or the defence wearing the uniform of the enemy chaplains, monks, mullahs and rabbis – of those in their care, but must not involve civilians in times of armed conflict are • mercenaries. who are dedicated to the exercise of their themselves in offensive military activity. entitled to fundamental rights and ministry. To receive protection they must be guarantees. Murder, torture, violence or attached either permanently or temporarily Medical and religious personnel captured The rights of prisoners-of-war in international mutilation of civilians is forbidden, as are to the armed forces, a medical unit or a civil by the enemy do not become prisoners- armed conflict are set out in the Third physical or psychological attacks against defence organisation. of-war. While ‘retained’ they should be Geneva Convention. In broad terms they their health, dignity, or religious practices. allowed to continue their impartial medical have the right to be humanely treated - Civilians should not be directly targeted or All such personnel wear a water-resistant duties. If they are not needed they should including the right to adequate food, shelter, taken as hostages. Conversely, they should band on their left arm. It bears one of the be returned to their own side. medical care, exercise and recreation, not be used to shield military objectives distinctive emblems of protection, and is or moved to an area to make it exempt 8 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 9

from military attack. Their property should protections are adequate. It is not that the Additional Protocols of 1977, the two the appropriate use of force. They may be respected. Women and children are any more law is needed – rather greater streams of ‘Geneva Law’ and ‘Hague Law’ also carry printed cards to remind them provided with special protection. Rape compliance with, and enforcement of, the have become entwined. With their different of their obligations under their rules of and indecent assault are forbidden in all current provisions. emphases (how to protect non-combatants, engagement. circumstances. versus how combatants must fight fairly) they are essential and complementary pillars Rules for combatants On the other hand, bearing relief supplies of IHL. such as food, medicines and clothing Methods and A simple set of rules for members of the should be given free and unimpeded armed forces is: means of warfare Some key principles for access. In particular, the humanitarian combatants • Be a disciplined combatant. Disobedience activities of the International Red Cross and of the laws of armed conflict dishonours Red Crescent Movement should be allowed • Attacks must not be indiscriminate, you and your defence force and causes to continue unhindered. The reunion of but must be directed solely at military unnecessary suffering. dispersed families and the exchange of objectives. In order to protect the civilian • Fight only enemy combatants and attack family news should be facilitated by the population, military installations should not only military objectives. parties to the conflict and using the vast be located near densely populated areas. • Destroy no more than your mission requires. international networks of the Movement. • Attacks must fulfil the criteria of ‘military • Do not fight enemies who are out of necessity’. That is, they must make an Written in 1949, with the experience of combat or who surrender. They are ‘effective’ contribution to military action and occupied Europe in mind, the fourth protected. Disarm them and hand them offer a ‘definite’ military advantage. Collateral Geneva Convention deals with civilians in over to the appropriate authority. enemy hands. There are two categories damage and destruction (especially to which include: civilians/civilian property) should be avoided • Collect and care for the wounded and and commanders must have reliable sick - friends and enemies alike. Priority • Civilians in a foreign country who have intelligence before launching attacks where must be given only on medical grounds. the right to leave unless their departure is damage to civilians may occur. • Treat all, whether civilians or enemy forces, against national interests; • Weapons and methods of warfare likely to with humanity. cause unnecessary suffering are prohibited. • Civilians whose country has been • Prisoners must be treated humanely. occupied, and who should be allowed • Chemical and biological warfare have been Torture, whether physical or mental, is to continue their lives as normally as banned, as has the use of blinding laser strictly prohibited. possible. weapons. • Do not take hostages. • It is prohibited to starve the civilian If, for security reasons, it is necessary • Do not carry out retaliatory acts against population, to destroy objects essential to to intern people, they must be held in An ICRC medical team provides emergency surgical protected enemy personnel or objects. their survival, or to cause widespread, long- conditions similar to those of POWs. This treatment in Sudan. Photo: ICRC/Boris Heger term or severe damage to the environment. • Respect all persons and objects marked means that people may be moved from their with the emblem of the red cross, red homes to live in a residential area or camp • Cultural and historic objects, installations In addition to providing protection for victims crescent, red crystal or the white flag. where they can be supervised. containing dangerous forces (e.g. nuclear of war, IHL, in particular Protocols I and II, Never use the emblems inappropriately. provides limitations on the ways war can power stations), and neutral zones where Thus, civilians in occupied territory, civilians legally be fought. civilians and civil defence personnel can • Respect other people’s property - looting is under their own governments and civilians shelter are given special protection, and prohibited. in both international and internal conflicts Many of these rules stem from the Hague provision is made for their marking and • Prevent any breach of the above rules. are all covered. Even with the undeniable Conventions, treaties negotiated at the end identification. Any breach of the laws of armed conflict is and appalling suffering experienced by of the 19th Century at a series of military civilians in war zones every day, most IHL • On the ground, soldiers are issued strict punishable. and peace conferences in The Hague, rules of engagement which clearly define commentators believe that the existing Netherlands. Over time, and especially in • Report any breach of the laws of armed issues such as orders for opening fire and conflict. 10 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 11

• Visits to persons deprived of their The role of the Red liberty in their places of detention: Cross in times of delegates interview prisoners, without any witnesses, register details and armed conflict arrange the exchange of personal family messages. They check and try to improve the material and psychological International humanitarian law sets out the conditions of prisoners, but never mandate of, and the authority for, the ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent pass judgement on the reasons for the Societies in times of conflict. detention. • Running a central tracing agency: Tracing officers search for persons who have disappeared and assist the families An ICRC delegate visits a place of detention in Chechnya. Photo: ICRC/Paul Grabhorn who have no news of their relatives. They arrange for the exchange of family negotiating the establishment of safe havens. duties to assist sick and wounded troops— messages when normal channels of In all these ways, the ICRC is the guardian and providing basic comforts and organising communication have broken down promoter of International Humanitarian Law. leisure activities and family contact. and, where possible, organise family The International Federation of reunifications. Red Cross and Red Crescent How is IHL enforced? • Conducting IHL education programs Societies worldwide to inform members of the The Federation promotes co-operation armed forces as well as civilians about The responsibility for enforcing IHL lies first and between National Societies at the the law. foremost with each of the 194 nations that international level. In the field the Federation have ratified the Geneva Conventions – that is, Further to these specific roles, the ICRC co-ordinates and mobilises relief assistance every nation in the world. In most cases when has a ‘right of initiative’ under the Geneva for international emergencies. Its work a country adopts the Geneva Conventions Conventions. This gives the ICRC the formal focuses on four core areas: promoting it must pass its own domestic legislation right to offer to undertake any humanitarian humanitarian values, disaster response, providing penalties for violations of the rules. activity to protect war victims, subject to the disaster preparedness and health and The most serious violations are called ‘grave consent of the nations involved. Under this community care. During a conflict, the breaches’. Grave breaches include torture and Near Moscow, Russian soldiers train in the rules of initiative, the ICRC has been able to visit, Federation supports the work of national engagement. Photo: ICRC/Fred Clarke inhumane treatment of POWs and civilians, the register (and thus protect) many security and societies that provide direct relief to taking of hostages and the conduct of scientific political detainees around the world, even those affected. and biological experiments. though those visited did not strictly have legal The International Committee of status as POWs. National Societies the Red Cross (ICRC) The Geneva Conventions also allow for the National Societies may be called on to act Australian legislation • Provision of medical care: equipment, appointment of a ‘Protecting Power’ - a as auxiliaries to the medical services of the Under the War Crimes Act 1945, and until blood supplies, field hospitals and clinics, neutral party to the conflict which scrutinises armed forces in times of armed conflict. For 1951, nearly 300 war crimes trials were surgical, nursing and rehabilitation teams. the activities of states and safeguards example Australian Red Cross can act as conducted. Most of these trials were held • Provision of material aid and emergency their interests. The ICRC has sometimes an auxiliary to the medical services of the in northern Australia and the Pacific region, relief to civilians: food, shelter, clothing, undertaken some of the tasks of a Protecting Australian Defence Force should additional involving crimes allegedly committed establishment of water and sanitation Power - for example, by bringing States resources be required. Traditionally Australian by Japanese troops. The War Crimes programs. together to facilitate POW exchanges or Red Cross has also undertaken non-medical Amendment Act 1988 enables the Australian 12 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 13

Government to prosecute people now this branch of military law is vital. If the against the Nazis and the Japanese. Though genocide - in both international and internal resident in Australia and suspected of having Conventions are to be respected and often criticised as examples of ‘victors’ armed conflict. In 2010 a Review Conference committed war crimes in Europe during complied with, the rules - both the soldier’s justice’ (‘It’s only the winners who try the renewed international efforts to define the World War II. rights and responsibilities - must be losers’) the trials were an important step in crime of aggression. At June 2010, 111 the development of international law. nations, including Australia (this figure is known and understood. In Australia, IHL is constantly updated on the ICRC website) In 1957 the Australian Government enacted incorporated into training programs for all Since World War II, there have been other had agreed to be bound by the operation of the Geneva Conventions Act. This Act, levels of the armed forces and into military notable cases. Adolf Eichmann was tried in the Court. This means that there are more together with the Geneva Conventions manuals. Australian Red Cross complements Israel for his Nazi activities, and American than 100 countries where ICC investigations Amendment Act 1991, the Criminal Code the Australian Defence Force training Lieutenant William Calley was tried by the would be facilitated, and where alleged war 1995 and International Criminal Court Act by offering a range of courses, lectures, United States for his actions at My Lai, criminals cannot run and hide. 2002, provides the legal framework for the brochures and materials, and by active South Vietnam. These, however, are the trial and punishment of anyone committing participation in military exercises. exceptions. It was not until the 1990s The very first case to be heard before the grave breaches of the laws of war either in that the international community doubled ICC is the trial of the Congolese warlord, Australia or elsewhere. Application to UN personnel its efforts to end widespread impunity for Thomas Lubanga, charged with recruiting On 12 August 1999 (the 50th anniversary of breaches of the law. and using children under the age of 15 in his Military law the revised Geneva Conventions of 1949), In 1993 and 1994 the United Nations military forces. Indictments are being issued the Secretary - General of the United Nations Security Council established two tribunals and investigations launched into matters in Members of the armed forces are governed issued a directive that IHL applies to all forces, to try certain crimes alleged to have been a growing number of countries. While the by military law which requires them to carry including peacekeepers, under UN command. committed in the former Yugoslavia and Court has no death penalty, sentences of up out the legal orders of a superior. However, This was a significant step in raising the in Rwanda. Though plagued by problems to 30 years may be given, or even a life term if a member of the armed forces carries out international profile of IHL and the seriousness such as difficulty gaining reliable evidence for extremely grave crimes. Prison space will an order which violates the law of armed with which the United Nations views it. and bringing suspects into custody, these be offered by various nations that are party to conflict, that member and the member two ad hoc tribunals are still successfully the Court. who gave the illegal order may be held hearing cases and handing out significant responsible for their actions. Combatants are punishments, some at very high levels. expected to be aware of, and to resist, an order which is blatantly illegal. The defence of superior orders (‘I was told to do it…’) may mitigate a sentence but is not International considered an excuse. Criminal Court A significant change occurred with the creation of Additional Protocol I. For the After 50 years of debate and three years of first time, a strong emphasis was placed on negotiation, a Statute of the International the responsibility of commanding officers. A woman surveys the remains of victims of Rwanda’s Criminal Court (ICC) was adopted on 17 July A commanding officer ordered to commit a 1994 genocide, preserved where they were killed at An ICRC delegate briefs Nigerian soldiers on IHL before their 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002. peacekeeping mission to Darfur. Photo: ICRC/Boris Heger grave breach must not pass on or carry out Ntaram’s Roman Catholic Church. Photo: ICRC the order and must therefore have sufficient Established in The Hague, the Court may knowledge to judge what is and what is hear cases referred by a State Party, by Notwithstanding the creation of this not a violation. Further, a commander is the Security Council or by the independent permanent international body, the obligation personally responsible for the behaviour War crimes tribunals Prosecutor. The Court has the power to to prosecute remains first and foremost with try any individual from any level - a soldier, of subordinates. Being away from the the individual States. It is only if they are a commander, a civilian, a Head of State ‘unable’ or ‘unwilling’ to prosecute that the scene and claiming not to know about their The international military tribunals in and so on – for the most serious violations ICC will have jurisdiction to hear a case. The conduct is insufficient defence. Nuremberg (1945) and Tokyo (1946) at the - war crimes, crimes against humanity and International Red Cross and Red Crescent The training of military personnel in end of World War II tried the major cases 14 Protecting People International Humanitarian Law 15

Movement is strongly supportive of all efforts of individuals, non-government organisations to bring war criminals to justice and was and the International Red Cross and Red Fundamental Principles of the International involved in the debates leading to the creation Crescent Movement which galvanised public Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement of the International Criminal Court. The ICC opinion and finally focused the attention of is an independant court - not run under UN governments on the issue of anti-personnel auspices, and certainly not by Red Cross. landmines. These weapons, scattered across Humanity Independence more than 70 countries, contravened IHL principles in that they did not distinguish The International Red Cross and Red The International Red Cross and Red between combatant and civilian. Their blasts Crescent Movement, born of a desire to Crescent Movement is independent. The caused horrific, unnecessary and permanent bring assistance without discrimination to the National Societies, while auxiliaries in the injury. The negotiation in September 1997 wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its humanitarian services of their governments of the ‘Ottawa Treaty’ which banned the international and national capacity, to prevent and subject to the laws of their respective manufacture, use, transfer and stockpiling and alleviate human suffering wherever it may countries, must always maintain their of anti-personnel mines, is testament to the be found. Its purpose is to protect life and autonomy so that they may be able at all way a groundswell of public opinion can bring health and to ensure respect for the human times to act in accordance with the principles about meaningful change in international law. being. It promotes mutual understanding, of the Movement. A man holds up a canister of a de-activated cluster A similar process began in Oslo, with a joint friendship, cooperation and lasting peace munition in Lebanon. Photo: ICRC/M Kovic humanitarian move against cluster munitions. amongst all peoples. Voluntary service The trust which all parties have in the ICRC’s In layman’s terms a cluster munition is a bomb It is a voluntary relief movement not neutrality, and the unique access that ICRC that contains as many as 600 bomblets, often Impartiality prompted in any manner by desire for gain. delegates have to victims, means that the size of a soft drink can. In mid-air the delegates keep information obtained in the bomb canister splits open, spraying bomblets The International Red Cross and Red course of their missions in strict confidence at high velocity and causing maximum Crescent Movement makes no discrimination Unity and they may not be compelled to give damage over wide areas – again, theres is no as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class testimony at any war crimes tribunal. distinction between targets. Making matters or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve There can only be one Red Cross or one worse many bomblets do not explode, and, the suffering of individuals, being guided Red Crescent Society in any one country. like landmines, they lie buried in sand, mud or solely by their needs, and to give priority to It must be open to all. It must carry on its snow or floating down rivers, contaminating the most urgent cases of distress. humanitarian work throughout its territory. Public opinion and the farm land and endangering those going about need for dissemination their daily business for years after hostilities Universality have ended. Though medical and rehabilitation Neutrality assistance for victims will be needed for The International Red Cross and Red Public opinion can be effective in ensuring that In order to continue to enjoy the confidence decades, nevertheless the humanitarian world of all, the International Red Cross and Crescent Movement, in which all Societies IHL is observed. Nations in general do not was finally able to celebrate a victory when a have equal status and share equal wish to be seen to be violating international Red Crescent Movement may not take ban on cluster munitions was negotiated in sides in hostilities or engage at any time in responsibilities and duties in helping each law, especially in the humanitarian and human Dublin in 2008. other, is worldwide. rights areas. Breaching IHL may result in controversies of a political, racial, religious or With numerous armed conflicts raging international censure, or economic sanctions, ideological nature. around the world today, IHL rules are more and the unwanted attention of the international relevant than ever. Australian Red Cross is media. A civilian population which is treated firmly committed to a continued and strong badly will only resist all the more fiercely, and dissemination program about IHL’s content an army may even lose support for its military and values. campaign from the public at home. During the late 1990s, it was the persistence ACT South Australia Cnr Hindmarsh Drive 207 – 217 Wakefield Street & Palmer Street Adelaide SA 5000 Garran 2605 ACT Tel: 08 8100 4500 Tel: 02 6234 7610 Tasmania 40 Melville Street 159 Clarence Street Hobart TAS 7000 Sydney 2000 NSW Tel: 03 6235 6077 Tel: (02) 9229 4266

Northern Territory Ground Floor – Darwin Plaza 23 – 47 Villiers Street Australian Red Cross 41 Smith Street Mall North Darwin NT 0800 VIC 3051 National Office Tel: 08 8924 3900 Tel: 03 8327 7700 155 Pelham Street Carlton VIC 3053 Queensland Western Australia Tel 03 9345 1800 49 Park Road 110 Goderich Street Milton QLD 4064 East Perth WA 6004 www.redcross.org.au Tel: 07 3367 7222 Tel: 08 9225 8888