Workshop marks 60 years of VN’s ratification of 1949 Geneva Conventions

December 06, 2017 - 09:00

The Foreign Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held a workshop in Hà Nội on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of Việt Nam’s ratification of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on international humanitarian law (IHL).

Nguyễn Minh Vũ, assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister speaks at a workshop in Hà Nội on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of Việt Nam’s ratification of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on international humanitarian law (IHL). — Photo qdnd.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held a workshop in Hà Nội on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of Việt Nam’s ratification of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on international humanitarian law (IHL).

Nguyễn Minh Vũ, assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, emphasised that Việt Nam’s ratification of the 1949 Geneva Conventions was an important milestone demonstrating the country’s respect for and promotion of the enforcement of the IHL in particular and international law in general.

At present, changes in the forms of armed conflicts and the strong development of science-technology, including the development of tools and weapons used in war, are posing substantial challenges to the interpretation and application of regulations of these conventions, which were drafted in the 19th century.

Beat Schweizer, head of the ICRC Regional Delegation, said the ICRC highly valued Việt Nam’s active support for and leadership in strengthening and developing the IHL.

The ICRC has established and maintained relations with civil and military organisations of Việt Nam to enforce the Geneva Conventions, and hopes to enhance dialogue on IHL-related issues with the Vietnamese Government, he added. — VNS

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