By Josepheen Tarianga, Nov 5, 2021
Vanuatu participated in the third Pacific Islands roundtable on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), jointly hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Government of Kiribati from 2nd to the 4th of November.
This is the third time for Vanuatu to participate. The event was conducted virtually due to the pandemic, gathering many senior government officials from 12 Pacific Island countries to discuss current issues relating to IHL.
Representatives from Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu participated along with their national Red Cross Societies, as well as attendees from New Zealand, Switzerland and other regional organisations..
Secretary General of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS), Dickinson Tevi, said the debate has helped the authorities related to IHL assess Vanuatu’s progress.
“It is an opportunity that brings us together have the necessary discussions,” he said. “If it were not for this roundtable, we would have very rare meetings.”
Mr. Tevi explained that all countries, including in the Pacific, are parties to the Geneva Conventions, which form the bedrock of IHL. Under the Conventions, these countries share an obligation to respect and ensure respect for IHL.
The Chairman of the National IHL committee, Allanrow Bani, said through Vanuatu’s IHL committee, the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant authorities have been successful in ratifying 80% of the IHL-related treaties and conventions.
“Among the progress we have made is the launching of the IHL handbook for parliamentarians in 2020, following the election of the new legislature as well as advancement on national consultations in relation to the Arms Trade Treaty and cluster munitions with all the relevant authorities,” he added.
ICRC Regional Legal Adviser in the Pacific, Clementine Rendle, said every country in the world, is bound by IHL.
“These laws are about reducing suffering, and protecting the safety and dignity of people affected by conflict. They are about our common shared humanity,” she said.
The roundtable allowed Pacific countries to share their progress since the 2019 roundtable and asses what need to be done in the coming future.
This is the only Pacific island roundtable that is dedicated to the discussion of armed conflict within the region every two years. It deals with the law of war or armed conflict and protects civilians and all those not taking part in conflict during times of war.
The roundtable closed with Pacific countries giving recommendations on the necessary future implementation and dissemination of IHL throughout the region.