INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

International Humanitarian Law Office
3/F PRC Bldg. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
Phone: 527-0858 / 527-0000 (147)

About

In Section 3 of Republic Act 10072 (Philippine Red Cross Charter), PRC "shall be recognized as the voluntary, independent, and autonomous nongovernmental society auxiliary to the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in the humanitarian field to assist said authorities in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Conventions."

To strengthen this role of PRC, the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Office was formed. This was initiated by the IHL Committee of the Board of Governors, which was created in 2003.

The IHL Office is mainly responsible for the promotion of the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality), the basics of IHL, and the advocacy of domestic legislation and measures to implement provisions of the Geneva Conventions.

Main Activities

1. Dissemination Activities
For better understanding and information of the target audiences about Red Cross and the basics of IHL, the IHL Office is in charge of the dissemination activities of PRC. The IHL Office regularly conducts orientation sessions about the Red Cross Movement, its fundamental principles and activities, and the basics of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Regular dissemination/ orientation session normally runs for two to three hours and is held usually in the classroom setting as it involves film showing and multi-media presentations.

The priority audiences of the IHL Office are the following:
-Red Cross personnel (staff and volunteers)
-Community leaders and health workers
-Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police personnel and its auxiliaries (in coordination with the ICRC)

2. Legislative Activities
Among the activities of the IHL Office is the advocacy of domestic legislation and measures to implement provisions of the Geneva Conventions.

The IHL Office, in cooperation with ICRC and various stakeholders of IHL, successfully lobbied the domestic legislation on IHL: Republic Act 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity), which was signed into law in December 2009.

At present, the IHL Office is lobbying both in the Senate and the House of Representatives for the passage of the Emblem Bill (An Act Defining the Use and Protection of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal Emblems) which was first filed in the 14th Congress. In the Senate, Senate Bills 62 and 2045, which were authored by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Edgardo Angara, respectively, were already filed. The Emblem Bill's counterpart in the House of Representatives, House Bills 307 and 404, which were authored by Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez and Aurora Rep. Juan Angara, respectively, were also filed at the opening of the Congress.

3. IHL Day/ Month Activities
With the issuance of the Executive Order 134 declaring every August 12 as IHL Day, PRC took a step further by designating the month of August as IHL Month. The IHL Office organizes and monitors various activities and events organized in different PRC chapters nationwide.

Among the regular activities conducted yearly are the following:
-Walk/ Run for Humanity (Walk/ Run for a cause)
-Poster Making Contest
-Photo Exhibit
-Forum and Seminar

4. National IHL Moot Court Competition
An annual event held usually every November, the National IHL Moot Court Competition is organized jointly by PRC, ICRC, Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), and Supreme Court of the Philippines. The IHL Office serves as the overall coordinator and secretariat of the event. The competition aims to provide a venue for law students to become acquainted with and proficient in IHL issues.

Key Documents

Red Cross Movement
Story of an Idea (History of the Red Cross)
A Memory of Solferino
Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Republic Act 10072 (Philippine Red Cross Charter)