Around 200 people gathered today on the Place des Nations to mark the Geneva Conventions’ 75th anniversary. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis reminded the UN Security Council members, representatives of International Geneva, the City and Canton of Geneva, various NGOs and academia of the Geneva Conventions’ essential role. These pillars of international humanitarian law set limits to war and commit all states to respecting their duty of humanity in combat.
Symbolic action
The representatives of the institutions and organisations present then put back in an upright position, chairs created for the occasion by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and inspired by the famous ‘Broken Chair’ on the Place des Nations. This symbolic gesture was intended to show that, despite the current challenges, the fundamental rules and principles of the Conventions remain relevant and more topical than ever to protect human dignity and limit suffering at a time when there are more than 120 conflicts in the world. After today's event on the Place des Nations, the chairs will be placed in international locations to ensure that the message of humanity and action they represent continues.
Members of the United Nations Security Council visit Geneva
Before heading to the Place des Nations, the members of the Security Council, who had travelled from New York for the occasion, took part in a panel discussion at the UN's European headquarters, opened by Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and Timothy Musa Kabba, his counterpart form Sierra Leone, which holds the Security Council Presidency in August. ‘Switzerland is determined to make respect for the Geneva Conventions a political priority,’ said the head of the FDFA in his speech.
The Geneva Conventions and the test of time
Ignazio Cassis also reminded those present at a round table discussion organised at the end of the day at the Maison de la Paix that, 75 years after their adoption, the Geneva Conventions continue to save millions of lives; that the world has no more effective tool for protecting the victims of armed conflicts; and that it is not the rules of international humanitarian law that are inadequate, but the will to respect them that is lacking. Finally, the Federal Councillor reiterated that the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel in armed conflicts is one of Switzerland's priorities for its mandate on the Security Council and beyond.
Further information:
What does Switzerland do in the UN Security Council
75 years of the Geneva Conventions – Renewed Commitment to Upholding International Humanitarian Law (fr)
Event images are available on the FDFA’s Flickr account
Geneva Conventions, FDFA
Commemoration of 75 years of the Geneva Conventions on the Place des Nations (fr,en)
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E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
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