Geneva: The United Arab Emirates, along with Australia, Austria, and Kenya, co-chaired the second round of consultations on the Global Initiative's workstream dedicated to preventing violations of international humanitarian law. This meeting was held under the 'Global Initiative to Galvanise Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law,' convened by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussion was moderated by the four co-chairing countries and included active participation from Member States, civil society organisations, and experts. The meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of views and expertise to identify good practices for preventing violations.
Shahad Matar, the UAE's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, chaired a session focused on the breakdown of professionalism within parties to conflict. This issue was identified as a key factor contributing to international humanitarian law violations. Matar emphasized that preventing such violations is critical for fostering stability, reducing conflict escalation, and laying the groundwork for lasting peace, which are central objectives of the UAE's foreign policy.
Matar also noted the importance of broad stakeholder engagement in identifying actionable approaches, strategies, and effective methodologies to prevent violations and promote compliance.
The Global IHL Initiative aims to strengthen political will and reinforce collective efforts to improve respect for international humanitarian law worldwide. It provides a structured platform for States and stakeholders to advance practical, collaborative approaches to preventing and addressing IHL violations. To date, approximately 96 States have formally joined the Global IHL Initiative.