By Marinel E. Peroy
Photos by Amaris Javillonar
The 1949 Geneva Conventions, a cornerstone of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with a photo exhibit launched Monday.
The photo exhibit entitled “75 Years of Geneva Conventions: Preserving Humanity in War” s is presented by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in partnership with the Switzerland Embassy in the Philippines.
Under the Geneva Conventions, people who do not partake in military operations such as civilians, medics, and those who cannot longer fight such as wounded, sick, or prisoners, should be spared in times of war.
With featured photos from international armed conflicts, the exhibit serves as “a reminder to the world of the importance of protecting people from the worst of the warfare”.
The exhibit includes a series of shots taken from past to present situations, such as the Russia-Ukraine and the Gaza-Israel wars.
Every displayed picture has a short description giving more context to (trigger warning) themes of loss, death, or hostage situations which may be distressing to some viewers.
Today, the Geneva Conventions remain significant as have been ratified by most states and are universally applicable, noting the international standards of humanity. As pillars of IHL, the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols continue to be adopted as they protect victims of international and non-international armed conflicts, alleviating the atrocities of war.
The photo exhibit runs from August 6 to 14, 2024, from 11 AM to 8 PM, at ArtistSpace (Greenbelt Park) in Makati City. Admission is free.
