Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir signed
a decree in February to set up a national commission on international humanitarian
law. The commission's creation is a major step toward effective implementation
of humanitarian law in Sudan, a country that has suffered 19 years of internal
conflict. Its task will be to advise and assist the government in spreading
knowledge of and applying international humanitarian law, and thus meeting
its international obligations.
Effective compliance with the law requires
that governments take a series of legislative, administrative and practical
measures. They must adopt laws to ensure, for example, that prisoners of
war, wounded and sick combatants and civilians benefit from the guarantees
to which they are entitled.
The ICRC has long been actively engaged in promoting knowledge of humanitarian law in Sudan, together with the mechanisms for its implementation. The organization welcomes the new commission and will continue to provide advice and technical assistance to the Sudanese government.
Further information: Yahia Alibi, ICRC Khartoum, tel. ++249 11 476 464