SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION (11 August) -- By virtue of Executive Order 134 signed by former President Joseph Estrada in 1999, August 12 was declared as International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Day. The proclamation requires the yearly commemoration of the 1949 Geneva Convention signing and stress on the importance of said law.

The International Humanitarian Law, also known as the Law of War or simply Law of Armed Conflict provides emphasis on the protection of victims of armed conflict/during warfare – the wounded and sick soldiers in the battlefield; civilians; wounded, sick and shipwrecked soldiers; and all prisoners of war.

These body of rules/treaties composed of the Geneva Convention in particular, the Hague Conventions and other treaties give focus on the protection of non-combatants, objectives and places, and even the protective emblems; limitation/restrictions in the conduct ( use of banned (b) or restricted (r) weapons, target only military objectives, prohibition on indiscriminate fighting/military tactics) of warfare and distinction (combatants and non-combatants, military target and non-military target) in times of war, as the basic principles of IHL.

Being one of the signatories in the Geneva Convention of 1949, the Philippines recognizes IHL, similar with other countries, we are also tormented by armed conflicts inflicted by leftist and terrorists groups and even political radicals vis-a-vis the government.

Under the Geneva Law, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) play as the protector of the International Humanitarian Law. Being an affiliate of the ICRC, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) designates the month of August as the IHL month, with this year’s theme “Protecting Human Dignity”, directly applying the present political turmoil the country is facing into.To assist the ICRC, PNRC is conducting information campaign to increase public awareness on the understanding and respect of the IHL and the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross which speaks of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Universality and Unity from the lowest level in the locality, in the insurgency affected areas, government armed troops and also the opposition. (PIA-Ilocos)