August is International Humanitarian Law Month.
In observance of IHL month, the Philippine Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, along with the departments of National Defense, and of Foreign Affairs as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Commission on Human Rights will hold a series of activities aimed at heightening public awareness and respect for IHL.
The IHL or Geneva Conventions of 1949 is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who are not or no longer, participating in hostilities such as the wounded combatants, shipwrecked members at sea, prisoners of war and civilians.
All activities for this year’s IHL Month are anchored on the theme, “Mga Aral ng Nakaraan at Hamon sa Kasalukuyan (IHL: Lessons of the Past, Challenges of the Present) geared to promote the principles of IHL.
PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon, an advocate of IHL and the author of Republic Act 9851 which defines and penalizes violations of International Humanitarian Law and other crimes against humanity, said the commemoration of the international humanitarian rules also honors Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross Movement and main initiator of the Geneva Conventions.
PRC secretary-general Oscar P. Palabyab said Red Cross chapters will hold various activities for the event.
Local Red Cross chapters in Alaminos, La-Union, Masbate, Agusan Del Sur, and Zamboanga City have organized a “Run/Walk/Zumba for Humanity” while PRC Laguna Chapter will hold a “Ride for Red: Bike for Humanity.”
Red Cross chapters in Quezon City, Caloocan, Camarines Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Bohol, Capiz, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Agusan Del Norte-Butuan City, Bukidnon, Davao Del Sur, and Misamis Oriental will hold a series of dissemination sessions in universities, government agencies and various organizations.
