IMPLEMENTING THE LAW
Measures must be taken to ensure respect for international
humanitarian law. Teach its rules to their armed forces and the general public.
They must prevent violations or punish them if these
nevertheless occur.
They must enact laws to punish the most serious violations
of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols, which are regarded as war
crimes.
The States must also pass laws protecting the red cross and
red crescent emblems.
Measures have also been taken at an international level:
tribunals have been created to punish acts committed in two recent conflicts
An international criminal court, with the responsibility of
repressing inter alia war crimes, was created by the 1998 Rome Statute. Whether
as individuals or through governments and various organizations, we can all
make an important contribution to compliance with international humanitarian
law.
