56th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions: Saba News Agency and ICRC link up to make its rules known [Archives:2005/868/Reportage]
Sana'a, August 13, 2005. – On the 12th auf August, the Yemeni News Agency Saba has created a link on its website, under the headline “The Geneva
Conventions, the essence on international humanitarian law”. This link
contains basic information on the 1949 Conventions and its 1977 protocols,
and opens a link to the website of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in Arabic, with an introduction, a questions-and-answers page, as
well as the full texts of these essential instruments of international humanitarian law.
Nasser Taha Mustafa, the editor-in-chief of Saba News Agency, said on the occasion of this new weblink: “In today's conflicts, and particularly in
the context of the 'war on terror', references are made frequently to the
rules of the Geneva Conventions, be it with regard to the prisoners in
Guantanamo, or to the situation in Iraq. With this link, we want to create
an opportunity for journalists and readers to easily access precise
information about these essential rules for preserving humanity in times of
armed conflict.”
Martin Amacher, head of the ICRC delegation in Sana'a, added: “One of the main tasks of the ICRC is to spread the knowledge of international humanitarian law – in order to make these essential rules known, and through increased knowledge, to prevent violations of these rules. On this, we are working in Yemen with the Red Crescent Society and the National Commission on IHL. Today, we are proud to start this concrete cooperation with the Yemeni News Agency, and thank this institution indeed for its initiative.”
The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its two additional protocols of 1977 apply during international as well as non-international armed conflict. It's basic idea is that those persons who do not take part in hostilities (civilians, aid workers) and those who no longer participate (wounded and sick soldiers, prisoners of war) are not to be attacked, and have to be treated humanely at all times. 192 states, among them Yemen, are parties to the Geneva Conventions. Sana'a, August 13, 2005. – On the 12th auf August, the Yemeni News Agency Saba has created a link on its website, under the headline “The Geneva Conventions, the essence on international humanitarian law”. This link contains basic information on the 1949 Conventions and its 1977 protocols, and opens a link to the website of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in Arabic, with an introduction, a questions-and-answers page, as
well as the full texts of these essential instruments of international humanitarian law.
Nasser Taha Mustafa, the editor-in-chief of Saba News Agency, said on the occasion of this new weblink: “In today's conflicts, and particularly in
the context of the 'war on terror', references are made frequently to the
rules of the Geneva Conventions, be it with regard to the prisoners in
Guantanamo, or to the situation in Iraq. With this link, we want to create
an opportunity for journalists and readers to easily access precise
information about these essential rules for preserving humanity in times of
armed conflict.”
Martin Amacher, head of the ICRC delegation in Sana'a, added: “One of the main tasks of the ICRC is to spread the knowledge of international humanitarian law – in order to make these essential rules known, and through increased knowledge, to prevent violations of these rules. On this, we are working in Yemen with the Red Crescent Society and the National Commission on IHL. Today, we are proud to start this concrete cooperation with the Yemeni News Agency, and thank this institution indeed for its initiative.”
The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its two additional protocols of 1977 apply during international as well as non-international armed conflict. It's basic idea is that those persons who do not take part in hostilities (civilians, aid workers) and those who no longer participate (wounded and sick soldiers, prisoners of war) are not to be attacked, and have to be treated humanely at all times. 192 states, among them Yemen, are parties to the Geneva Conventions.
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[archive-e:868-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-08-15-p:report]
