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STORY: UN / INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW INITIATIVE
TRT: 01:38
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26, 27 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
26 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations
27 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger walks up to stakeout podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):
“The suffering we witness today in armed conflicts around the world is proof that respect for and compliance with the most fundamental rules are not being upheld.”
4. Wide shot, Spoljaric Egger and ambassadors at the stakeout podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):
“It is imperative for the international community to reiterate its political commitment and support to uphold IHL, both in letter and in spirit, leading to an alleviation of the impact of conflicts, including on civilians and civilian objects. Otherwise, the world risks witnessing spiraling conflicts leading to unprecedented human, political, social and economic costs.”
6. Wide shot, Spoljaric Egger and ambassadors at the stakeout podium
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):
“The initiative will produce concrete and practical recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges and for concrete action on the ground. The work shall culminate with a high-level meeting to uphold humanity in war in 2026. This joint effort to strengthen IHL complements a renewed global focus on advancing an agenda for peace, reinforcing civilian protection and strengthening global governance systems, thereby ensuring more effective international cooperation and protection for the affected by armed conflict.”
8. Wide shot, end of press encounter
The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger today (27 Sep) said, “the suffering we witness today in armed conflicts around the world is proof that respect for and compliance with the most fundamental rules are not being upheld.”
Speaking to reporters, flanked by ambassadors from Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, Spoljaric Egger presented a new initiative closely examining respect for International Humanitarian Law amidst an increasingly concerning spike in wars around the world.
She said it was “imperative for the international community to reiterate its political commitment and support” to uphold International Humanitarian Law (IHL), “both in letter and in spirit,” and stressed that “the world risks witnessing spiralling conflicts leading to unprecedented human, political, social and economic costs.”
The ICRC President said the initiative “will produce concrete and practical recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges and for concrete action on the ground.”
The ICRC will set up working groups to engage in comprehensive consultations with states and experts to address ways of preventing IHL violations, promoting the increased protection of civilian and civilian infrastructure, ensuring the safeguarding of healthcare services and medical staff, protecting humanitarian personnel and addressing contemporary and emerging challenges.
These consultations will lead to a high-level meeting to uphold humanity in war in 2026.
