60 years on from the Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law

The Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, are 60 years old this week. They represent the most widely ratified and recognized legal instrument worldwide.

For signatories to the Geneva Conventions, it is not a choice of whether or not to act, it is a legal obligation. Article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions obliges state parties to an armed conflict, as well as third states who are not involved in the conflict, to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

These are the stories of men and women whose lives have been affected by acts committed in violation of International Humanitarian Law:

Sharif Omar- Jayyous

Sharif Omar, a 66-year old farmer who lives in Jayyous, a village located in the north of the West Bank, has his home is on one side of the Wall, while his farmland is on the other.It took him seven months to obtain a permit giving him the right to cross over to work on his own land. And it is only good for six months, when it will need to be renewed. His son Azzam, a businessman, was never granted a permit and cannot access the family land. Ironically Azzam is allowed to travel in Israel - he can go to Tel Aviv or to Haifa but he does not have permission to go to his family farmland located close to his house.

Diab Tarabin- the border zone

The “buffer zone”, the area located all along the border with Israel and which is up to 600 meters wide, contains some of the most fertile land of the Gaza Strip. Yet many farmers can no longer access their fields, as Israeli soldiers target people approaching the border. Diab Tarabin is a Bedouin farmer who lives very close to the border zone. His house and agricultural equipment, such as the water tank pictured, were destroyed by Israeli tanks during Operation “Cast Lead”. He can no longer access his land, even though he has a family of 15 to support.

Afghanistan – Herat

For the past three decades, civilians have been bearing the brunt of the war in Afghanistan. This has caused the death of over 2 million Afghans and has forced 5 million people to flee the country.
This man is not a soldier. He was a private citizen when he was injured during the fights in Herat, Afghanistan, in May 2008. He wasn’t able to receive care. 

Somalia – Burao

In January 2008, after escaping the fights in Mogadishu, two children arrived at the refugee camp “October village” in Burao, Somalia. The vast majority of refugees had to walk for weeks before reaching this camp, where the conditions are appalling. Food is scarce and access to care is virtually non-existent. The States do not protect their population, both due to lack of ability and deliberate choice.

Democratic Republic of the Congo – Sake

January 2006, eastern Congo: Sake Health Center, near Goma. This girl was raped and is now close to giving birth. Rape is often used as a weapon of war. Since the fights started in DRC in 1998, tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped.

Read more

Oxfam's Report:  Five Years of Illegality: Time to dismantle the Wall and respect the rights of Palestinians

Information on the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Afghanistan.