Baku:Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Chairman of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, led Bahrain's delegation at the Global Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law held in Switzerland from November 3-4. This participation highlights Bahrain's dedication to international cooperation and the support of international humanitarian law (IHL) principles.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the dialogue was co-chaired by Alexandre Fasel of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Discussions focused on enhancing compliance with IHL and reviewing outcomes from consultations aimed at galvanizing political commitment to IHL.
The dialogue addressed seven key workstreams that dealt with contemporary challenges in IHL application and respect during armed conflicts. Participants discussed practical measures to strengthen existing international obligations and uphold humanitarian principles.
Priority areas included promoting respect for IHL, protecting civilians, and ensuring essential services during conflicts. Discussions also covered the impact of modern technologies in warfare and the need to ensure compliance with IHL and humanitarian principles. The dialogue underscored the importance of transforming international consultations into concrete actions, enhancing national actions, and exchanging best practices.
The event is part of preparations for the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War, scheduled for December 2026 in Jordan, aiming to further international efforts towards respecting IHL. On the sidelines, Bahrain's Minister met with the ICRC President to discuss cooperation and coordination in promoting IHL respect and protecting civilians during conflicts.
Bahrain's active role in this dialogue underscores its ongoing commitment to international rule of law initiatives, supporting peace, stability, and respect for international obligations.