Geneva: The State of Qatar participated in the fourth round of states' consultations under the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. Qatar was represented by Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mansouri, who chaired the session on Workstream Three: "International Humanitarian Law and Peace."
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Mansouri emphasized the severe and enduring effects of armed conflicts on societies. He noted that breaches of international humanitarian law aggravate grievances, erode trust, and impede the potential for sustainable peace. The core message of the third Workstream, as highlighted by Al Mansouri, is that every war should be approached with a vision for peace, directing all actions during conflict towards enabling parties to coexist peacefully after hostilities cease.
Al Mansouri outlined that the final document of the Workstream seeks to transform states' practices and proposals into actionable future recommendations, structured throughout the conflict cycle: before, during, and after hostilities. The initial focus is on fortifying preventive systems during peacetime, which includes protecting specific groups like the missing, detainees, and the deceased, and promoting disarmament efforts to uphold international humanitarian law during conflicts, thereby laying the groundwork for long-term recovery and peace.
Furthermore, the second part of the document emphasizes the integration of international humanitarian law into mediation and ceasefires during armed conflicts. The third segment addresses post-conflict phases, offering a model checklist of measures to ensure continued adherence to international humanitarian law.
Qatar's participation in these consultations highlights its role as a co-chair of the third Workstream of the initiative on international humanitarian law and peace. This effort is in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Colombia, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross.