The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) joins the country's annual celebration of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) month this August with the theme "Upholding IHL as We Recover from the Pandemic: Bayanihan to Reduce the Suffering in Armed Conflict Toward Advancing the Gains of Peace and Reconciliation."
IHL is a set of rules that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and wars, as per the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The PRC, as stated in its released statement, is holding "dissemination sessions" and other activities to promote the IHL principles to the public.
This year’s celebration is chaired by the Department of National Defense (DND) and co-chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), PRC added
Aside from the humanitarian organization, other members of the Ad Hoc Committee for the celebration of IHL month are the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), ICRC, Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Human Rights Affairs Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Education.
The PRC also celebrated IHL day last Aug. 12 through a photo exhibit and a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the DND-AFP Commissions Officers Club pursuant to the Executive Order 134 signed by former President Joseph Estrada on July 31, 1999, declaring every 12th day of August as IHL day.
"IHL is there to protect everyone. We are neutral, and our neutrality allows us the credentials, the credibility to initiate discussions on IHL," said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon during his speech.
In relation to that, Gordon authored and sponsored the Republic Act 9851, also known as the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity."
This law, signed on Dec. 11, 2009, focuses on localizing IHL and taking its law and enforcement in the country a step forward, said PRC.
"We are one of a few countries that have two IHL," Gordon added, referring to the law and international treaty on IHL to which the Philippines is a signatory.