Holy See’s commitment
In order to contribute to this awareness effort, Archbisop Balestrero said that the Holy See has pledged to three commitments in the four coming years: training Catholic military chaplains in International Humanitarian Law, promoting its ethical foundations, especially for protecting civilians and religious sites, and cultivating interreligious dialogue in order to foster mutual respect, which contributes to the defence of human dignity and to the advancement of the values that inform IHL.
Recalling once again that “war is always a defeat of humanity”, Archbishop Balestrero concluded by renewing Pope Francis’ appeal that “not weapons, not terrorism, not war, but compassion, justice and dialogue [be] the fitting means for building peace”.
Themes discussed at the Conference in Geneva
The 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent runs from 28-31 October bringing together representatives from 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 196 States party to the Geneva Convention. Under the theme Navigate Uncertainty – Strengthen Humanity the Conference’s agenda focuses particularly on compliance with international humanitarian law; enhancing the protection of civilians and humanitarians; the promotion of sustainable locally-led humanitarian action; anticipation, preparation, and adaptation in the face of the climate challenge, the importance of ‘disaster law’; the impact of digital technologies in warfare.