The Council of Delegates,

recalling the proposal put forward by the Algerian Red Crescent at the 1986 Council of Delegates for the institution of a Red Cross and Red Crescent Peace Prize,

recalling that, according to the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Movement “by its humanitarian work and the dissemination of its ideals, (…) promotes a lasting peace, which is not simply the absence of war, but is a dynamic process of co-operation among all States and peoples, co-operation founded on respect for freedom, independence, national sovereignty, equality, human rights, as well as on a fair and equitable distribution of resources to meet the needs of peoples”.

The States which have accepted international treaties on the law of war are bound “to respect and to ensure respect for these treaties in all circumstances”.

This general principle, stated in the 1949 Geneva Conventions, has to be put into practice. For that reason, the States “undertake, in time of peace as in time of war, to disseminate the text of the treaties as widely as possible and, in particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of military and, if possible, civil intruction, so that the principles thereof may become known to the entire population, in particular to the armed forces”.

The general object of these Rules of Procedure (hereinafter called “these Rules”) is to ensure the implementation of the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (hereinafter called “the Statutes”) and to regulate the work of its statutory bodies.

Humanitarian assistance in armed conflict and other disasters can involve a great variety of institutions and participants all operating simultaneously, including national civil defence organizations, military units, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, international governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The German Red Cross in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) has attached great importance to the further development of international humanitarian law since the Second World War. The outcome of the Diplomatic Conference, which in 1949 led to the four Geneva Conventions, was understandably of special interest because of the situation in an occupied postwar Germany with millions of its countrymen missing or held prisoner of war. This interest was pursued after the German Red Cross in the Federal Republic and the German Red Cross of the German Democratic Republic were newly formed in 1950 and 1959. International law experts from the National Society in the FRG, in particular Walter Bargatzgy, its former President, and Dr. Anton Schlögel, the former Secretary General, not only played a key part in promoting its development at the International Conferences of the Red Cross which preceded the 1974–77 Diplomatic Conference on the reaffirmation and the development of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts but also closely followed the proceedings of that Conference and advised the Federal Republic's delegation to it. During the Diplomatic Conference, a working group composed of high-ranking officials from research and academic circles and government was formed by the National Society and still exists today. Specialists from the ICRC have regularly addressed the group.

After Bucharest in 1977 and Manila in 1981, this is the third time I have the honour of addressing you in my capacity as President of the ICRC. As it is also the last time, I would like to ask for your patience because, after ten years at the head of the ICRC, I wish to avail myself of this final opportunity—and do so without having constantly to glance at my watch—to take stock with you and, together, look to the future.

It is common knowledge that by signing and ratifying the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 the High Contracting Parties have undertaken to seek out and prosecute all persons, whatever their nationality, committing or ordering to be committed any of the grave breaches defined in the said Conventions. As I have stated elsewhere, this express undertaking is so far removed from present custom, and from the traditional immunities enjoyed by nationals in this respect, as to justify asking how States intend to put it into effect and make its implications thoroughly understood and accepted by their politicians, armed forces and legal authorities.

To speak of the Geneva Conventions and medical personnel in the field is truly to return to the very source of international humanitarian law, for the event which led to the birth of that body of law was the tragedy suffered at the battle of Solferino in 1859 by the wretched masses of wounded soldiers on both sides who received no care whatever.

Governed as it is by the very nature of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, an emergency mission is more than a mere effort to restore essential services. Although it is undoubtedly best characterized by the relief activities set in motion during the acute phase, its full scope cannot be measured without taking into account the preparatory and subsequent rehabilitation and development phases.

Such a mission thus consists invariably of three stages: preliminary, in situ and follow-up.

In November 1977 the Belgian Government appointed an interdepartmental commission to study questions relating to the ratification of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions. This was done even before the Protocols, which had been adopted on 8 June of that year, were open for signature. The commission's work at that point was both to determine whether there was cause for Belgium to make an interpretative declaration or even announce a reservation when ratifying the Protocols, and to draft a bill for a law approving that ratification. This required consultation not only between the various ministerial departments concerned with implementing the Protocols but also between the Belgian Government and the governments of member countries of the military alliance to which Belgium belongs. It will be noted that the two NATO countries which ratified the Protocols before Belgium had decided not to make an interpretative declaration accompanying their ratification and did not therefore have to await the result of that consultation. The only reservation formulated by Denmark related to a question of judicial procedure in its national law.

In 1977 a number of resolutions were adopted by several international bodies on the importance of dissemination of knowledge of Red Cross Principles and International Humanitarian Law. Although there had been earlier resolutions on this subject, it was from that date that Red Cross and Red Crescent institutions began to approach dissemination in a more systematic manner.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Saint Lucia Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 140 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

On 6 May of this year, on the occasion of Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga's taking office as the ICRC's twelfth President, the ICRC General Assembly paid tribute to Mr. Alexandre Hay, who headed the institution from 1 July 1976 to 6 May 1987.

The members of the Committee and the Directorate recalled, in particular, the profound humanity and determination with which Mr. Hay had carried out his responsibilities throughout a decade marked by innumerable crises.

The ICRC Medical Division, established in November 1977, works for the war wounded, for prisoners, for the civilian population and for the war disabled. Its essential purpose is to keep the victims alive, alleviate their suffering and prevent their sicknesses or wounds from ruining the rest of their lives.

In his summary of ICRC activities during his term of office, (1976–1987) President Alexandre Hay said last May, “The medical sector, completely embryonic when I arrived, has developed considerably and has now achieved a highly praiseworthy quality and dimension. The ICRC and the victims of conflicts owe a great deal to the spirit of initiative, devotion and competence of its doctors”.

The Review is particularly pleased to publish the following article by Dr. Remi Russbach, Chief Medical Officer of the ICRC, who traces the evolution of the Medical Division in the past ten years, emphasizing not only the progress achieved in the execution of its programmes but dealing as well with the problems which the ICRC has had to face in this domain.

On the occasion of the Eighteenth Conference of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies, which was held in Doha (Qatar) from 2 to 5 March (see account on p. 224), Mr. Alexandre Hay, the ICRC President, and Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, the President elect, visited several Gulf countries from 21 February to 5 March. They were accompanied by Mr. Serge Nessi, Head of the Financing Division.

On 31 August 1987 the Vice-President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Justice A.K.M. Nurul Islam, visited ICRC headquarters, where he was received by the institution's President, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga.

In his welcoming speech, the ICRC President paid tribute to Mr. Nurul Islam, who is also Justice Minister of Bangladesh and a former Chairman of the National Red Cross Society, as a special partner in the dissemination of international humanitarian law.

Since 20 November 1986 Belgium has been committed to comply not only with the obligations contained in the 1949 Geneva Conventions, but also with those included in the two Additional Protocols of 1977. Everybody in our country must therefore make necessary preparations for pautting into effect the obligations falling within their responsabilities.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Guinean Red Cross by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 141 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.