Negros army reaffirms commitment to IHL
THE 303rd Infantry Brigade, 3ID, Philippine Army under Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, brigade commander, reaffirmed its commitment towards the promotion of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) during the celebration of the International Humanitarian Law for the month of August 2020.
The Department of National Defense (DND) is hosting this year’s national celebration of the IHL month with this year’s theme, "Preserving Human Dignity in Times of Armed Conflict: A Shared Responsibility” (Pangangalaga sa Dinigdad ng Tao sa Gitna ng Armadong Labanan: Sama-Samang Responsibilidad).
Annually since 1999, the DND and the Department of Foreign Affairs co-chair a government inter-agency ad hoc committee to formulate and implement activities to commemorate the IHL Day on August 12 and the whole month of August as IHL month.
“The Philippines, as a contracting party to the Four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, subscribes to the basic principle of disinterested humanitarian aid to all victims of war and armed conflict without discrimination and accepts direct responsibility for the application of IHL when involved in an armed conflict. The fundamental importance of the Geneva Conventions for the protection of those affected by armed conflict, and recalled the obligation of State parties to ensure that they are respected in all circumstances," Pasaporte said.
Pasaporte added that the army in Negros has reaffirmed its strong condemnation of violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to armed conflict, as well as violations and abuses of international human rights law.
"Our serious concern about situations of non-adherence of the Communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) to the international humanitarian law, including through indiscriminate attacks or attacks targeting civilians, starving civilians as a method of warfare, unlawful denial of access to humanitarian assistance and humanitarian personnel, and attacks against medical personnel and medical facilities, especially the recent attacks committed by the CNTs related to Covid-19 pandemic... we called upon all parties to comply with their legal obligations,” Pasaporte added.