Recommendation 2

We agree with the view of the ICRC that IHL is clear and comprehensive. It represents both a body of law that is robust and universal in its coverage, and a spirit by which warring parties must place the protection of civilians at the heart of their operational planning. However, there are serious deficiencies in the enforcement mechanisms and the ability of the international community to hold states and non-state actors accountable for violations of that law and spirit. As noted above, there is also an apparent willingness from non-state armed groups and UN Member States to ‘trade off’ the IHL breaches of others to justify further military action. This presents a threat to their very existence. These attitudes need exposing and publicly condemning by world leaders to prevent established and tested legal frameworks from being irrevocably damaged. (Conclusion, Paragraph 9)