Speech given by ICRC President Peter Maurer on the occasion of the launch of the Updated Commentary on the Second Geneva Convention on 4 May 2017
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 July 2017
From early history, people have used the sea, lakes and rivers for trade and commerce, for adventure and discovery. Despite these close ties, our survival on water depends on man-made objects such as ships, navigation systems and oxygen tanks. If we get injured or sick on water, or if our ships sink, we are vulnerable and our lives are in immediate danger.
1 Video of the panel of experts at the launch of the Updated Commentary on the Second Geneva Convention is available at: www.icrc.org/en/event/launch-updated-commentary-second-geneva-convention.