The International Humanitarian Law conference, organized by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA) in partnership with the National Commission for International Humanitarian Law and the Qatar Red Crescent Society, stressed the importance of continuing to work to spread and strengthen the values of international humanitarian law as a mechanism to achieve humanity in various conflicts.
The conference was held virtually and dealt with a number of topics and themes related to defining the basic principles of international humanitarian law and the mechanisms for its application, in light of many changes and developments such as the fight against terrorism, the humanitarian response in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the efforts of charitable and humanitarian organizations in the State of Qatar. The participants recommended the importance of enhancing respect for the rules of international humanitarian law through the dissemination and strengthening of its concepts, raising awareness, working to support mechanisms for its application at the national, regional and international levels, enact national laws and legislation that support and assist in its implementation, and strive to complete its issuance because of its importance in protecting relief and humanitarian aid personnel.
RACA Director-General Ibrahim Abdullah Al Dehaimi said in a speech during the conference that the level of qualitative development witnessed by private charitable associations and institutions in Qatar is a natural result of continuous efforts in this regard, as well as a result of the system of continuous development and improvement that RACA has focused on and invested in to advance this sector.
He stressed that Qatar is considered an active party in international humanitarian law and therefore the conference is part of the ongoing work to consolidate this awareness, understanding and best practices regarding respect for the rule of law and human rights in both peace and war situations.
The Director-General indicated that RACA’s work mechanism is based primarily on the standards and principles of international humanitarian law. He Expressed hope that the principles of the law will be transformed through this conference in which charitable and humanitarian organizations participate.
For his part, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Chairman of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law H E Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Suwaidi explained that charitable institutions and societies help the poor and needy and participate in international solidarity effectively and efficiently, as well as addressing the most important humanitarian and development challenges faced by poor and needy peoples across the world, whether they result from the scarcity of natural resources or from the effects and consequences of armed conflicts.
He added that Qatar is always at the forefront to contribute aid and extend its help through its government agencies, the Qatar Red Crescent Society, or charitable associations and institutions for assistance and rescue.
Qatar did not hesitate to continue its pioneering role in humanitarian work and in support of international efforts to combat COVID-19, as it made contributions that exceeded USD 140 million and signed a basic contribution agreement with the WHO worth USD 10 million to support its work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in countries most in need, HE Undersecretary added.
Secretary-General of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), H E Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, affirmed that the wide participation in the conference from inside and outside Qatar reflects the humanitarian and societal importance of this issue, everyone’s awareness of the necessity of observing the principles and rules of international humanitarian law in national laws and legislation, translating those principles and rules into applications that provide a minimum level of humanity and dignity for those affected by wars and armed conflicts and limit the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which have become a prevalent feature today, unfortunately.
He stated that Qatar Red Crescent, as the first humanitarian and social institution in the State of Qatar, and in its legal capacity as a supporter of the state in its humanitarian and development policies locally and abroad, as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it attaches the utmost importance to activating the provisions of international humanitarian law, exemplified by the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
It also works to spread the movement’s basic principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, which helps to consolidate a culture of human rights.
He urged the international community to intervene and extend a helping hand to the victims of conflicts and to promote international peace and security, affirming that this humanitarian diplomacy is the approach adopted by the QRCS in dealing with conflicts and humanitarian crises, in parallel and complementarity with its relief and development work in the field, despite the previous attacks on it, which resulted in the martyrdom of a number of its medical and relief cadres, and the targeting of its foreign offices and health facilities more than once, in flagrant violation of the most basic rules of international humanitarian law, human values, and religious teachings.
In his speech, Al Hammadi noted that at the local level, the strategy of local projects and programs implemented by the QRCS is based on the concept of social welfare, public service, and volunteer work in line with the directions of the state to raise the banner of human rights, and to extend the umbrella of social safety, integration and solidarity among all segments of society.
During the conference, a number of participants in government and private agencies in the country and abroad spoke about the various themes of the conference, including the definition of the basic principles of international humanitarian law, mechanisms for the application of international humanitarian law, categories and objects protected under international humanitarian law, counter-terrorism and international humanitarian law, and the humanitarian response to volunteers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of international humanitarian law.
