Geneva Call has called for renewed efforts to uphold and promote International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) amid a global rise in armed conflicts and mounting humanitarian needs.
The appeal was made on International Human Rights Day during a high-level panel titled “Engaging armed actors to strengthen civilian protection: from law to action,” jointly convened by Geneva Call and the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels. Participants stressed that respect for IHL remains a strategic imperative for stability in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
According to the organisations, an estimated 305 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 204 million living under the control of armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDAs).
Speakers repeatedly underscored that engagement with AGDAs is essential to protecting civilians. For more than two decades, Geneva Call has sought to promote behavioural change by supporting the integration of humanitarian norms into the practices of armed actors.
Testimonies from Geneva Call staff working in various conflict settings highlighted how sustained dialogue, trust-building, and context-specific approaches can help reduce violence and contribute to longer-term peace.
The discussion also emphasised that policies must be tailored to specific contexts rather than applied uniformly. Panelists noted the importance of grounding policy frameworks in the lived realities of conflict-affected communities and strengthening links between field experience and decision-making to ensure responses are principled, effective, and protective.
The event was held as part of the commemoration of Geneva Call’s 25 years of work promoting peace and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts through respect for IHL.
