‘Gaps’ in public understanding of rules of war
The Irish Red Cross (IRC) says that a survey has revealed “significant gaps” in Irish people’s understanding of the laws that govern armed conflict throughout the world.
The organisation has carried out the survey on public awareness of international humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the rules of war, which is set out in the 1949 Geneva Convention.
The research found that one-third (33%) of people in Ireland are not aware that rape and other forms of sexual violence are prohibited under the rules of war.
A similar proportion did not recognise that torturing enemy soldiers to obtain information is also prohibited under IHL.
Ireland’s role
The findings are published in an IRC report entitled ‘Voices for Humanity in Conflict’ that is being launched at its annual IHL conference in Dublin today (17 September).
The research investigates what people in Ireland know about the rules that regulate armed conflict, whether they support IHL principles, and the type of role they expect Ireland and the EU to play in promoting and upholding respect for IHL.
While nearly three-quarters (73%) of people in Ireland are aware that rules of war exist, only 35% of respondents reported being familiar with the rules and just 2% can explain IHL in detail.
The survey found that almost three-quarters (74%) of people agreed that Ireland should take action against states or groups that seriously violated IHL, even if it damaged diplomatic relations, and 72% agreed that Ireland should do so even where there was an economic cost to Ireland.
Pressure on IHL
Speaking ahead of the report launch, Deirdre Garvey (secretary general, IRC) said that IHL was under increasing pressure, with more than 130 active armed conflicts globally.
“In an era where images of armed conflict are on our screens daily, IHL provides a framework through which the public can understand that, even in war, there are limits to what is acceptable.
“Public understanding of IHL matters because for the rules of war to be respected, they must be known,” she stated.
The IRC is calling for more focus on IHL in school curricula, universities, and across general society.