Amman, Dec. 11 (Petra)-- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs, convened a high-level regional conference on Thursday at the Dead Sea to reinforce adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL). The event brought together the secretaries-general of Arab foreign ministries.

The conference is part of a global initiative aimed at mobilizing political support for international humanitarian law. The initiative is jointly led by Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, in cooperation with the ICRC, with the objective of reinvigorating global commitment to the laws of war and placing them at the forefront of political priorities, particularly as nearly 130 armed conflicts continue worldwide.

Participants emphasized that worsening humanitarian crises in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine along with the widespread suffering they cause and the mounting strain on global humanitarian capacity underscore the urgent need to strengthen respect for IHL. They highlighted, in particular, the importance of protecting civilians, critical infrastructure, and medical services during armed conflict.

They also underscored Jordan’s pivotal role in this international effort, serving as a regional hub for strategic dialogue and a platform for coordinating actions aimed at reinforcing legal and operational safeguards for civilian protection.

Jordan’s hosting of the conference, they affirmed, reflects its steadfast commitment to humanitarian diplomacy and its longstanding partnership with the ICRC.

The conference aims to facilitate both technical and political dialogue among Arab foreign ministries, with the participation of senior officials and experts in international humanitarian law. Discussions focused on steps needed to enhance compliance with IHL, reaffirm its importance, and address key challenges facing civilian infrastructure and medical facilities, within the framework of the global IHL initiative.

Participants also reviewed the preliminary recommendations of earlier consultations held throughout the year on protecting civilian infrastructure and medical installations, and discussed potential mechanisms to strengthen joint action moving forward.

The conference represents a significant milestone in reinforcing cooperation between Jordan, Arab states, and the ICRC, and reaffirms the collective responsibility to safeguard human life during armed conflict.

//Petra// MF