Resolution 4. NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

The Council of Delegates,

recalling Resolution 1 of the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (1995), entitled "International humanitarian law: From law to action. Report on the follow-up to the International Conference for the Protection of War Victims",

stressing the importance of implementation of international humanitarian law at the national level,

noting that all States must take national measures to implement international humanitarian law, including dissemination to the armed forces and to the general public, the adoption of legislation to punish war crimes and protect the use of the red cross/red crescent emblems, and other relevant measures,

1. welcomes the valuable contribution of the ICRC's Advisory Service in assisting States with the adoption of national measures to implement international humanitarian law, in promoting the exchange of information on such measures, and in encouraging the ratification of international humanitarian law treaties;

2. reaffirms the special role of National Societies in cooperating with their governments in the implementation and dissemination of international humanitarian law;

3. welcomes the work of many National Societies in drawing the attention of their respective governments to the need for legislation and other measures to be adopted nationally in order to implement international humanitarian law, in assisting their governments in adopting such measures, and in promoting the ratification of international humanitarian law treaties;

4. encourages all National Societies to promote the adoption of implementation measures at the national level and to cooperate regionally and internationally with other National Societies, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with the ICRC in this field;

5. notes the valuable role played by existing national committees for the implementation of international humanitarian law in advising and assisting their governments on implementation and dissemination of international humanitarian law;

6. encourages all National Societies to make every effort to promote the establishment of national committees and, where such committees already exist, to play an appropriate role in their work;

7. takes note of the proposal to establish a voluntary review procedure on national implementation of international humanitarian law;

8. invites National Societies to examine the proposal with their respective governments.