Kenya has thrown its weight behind international efforts to make warring parties respect the laws of war, The Star reported. The government reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Initiative to Galvanise Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. A high-level conference on the initiative is set for December 7 in Amman, Jordan.
Ambassador Njambi Kinyungu, the deputy director general for multilateral affairs, conveyed Kenya's position at a meeting with representatives of the initiative's six founding countries. These are Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa. The International Committee of the Red Cross also took part. Jordanian Ambassador Rulan Samara led the delegation. She presented a joint démarche stressing the importance of Kenya's participation in the conference.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Kenya welcomed the conference. It said Kenya hoped the Political Declaration would turn renewed political commitment into "concrete and practical recommendations". These should help states and other actors uphold and implement humanitarian law. Kenya praised the founding countries for leading the initiative. It called the effort timely, saying respect for the laws of war and the protection of civilians face growing challenges.
Kenya also co-chairs the initiative's Prevention Good Practices Workstream with Australia, Austria and the United Arab Emirates. The workstream looks for practical measures that can stop violations before they happen. The wider initiative aims to turn long-standing legal obligations into stronger political commitments and action. It targets governments and other parties to armed conflicts.
International humanitarian law sets the rules for how parties behave in armed conflict. It protects people who are not fighting, or no longer fighting. These include civilians, wounded combatants, prisoners of war and aid workers. It also limits the weapons and methods of war that parties can use. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols form its foundation.
Under these rules, parties must distinguish civilians from combatants and avoid indiscriminate attacks. They must also take precautions to limit harm to civilians. But The Star noted that continued civilian suffering in conflict zones has raised questions about how well these obligations are enforced. Humanitarian groups are pressing governments to go beyond statements and make legal protections hold on the ground. The pressure is greatest where hospitals, civilian infrastructure and aid operations come under threat.
Kenya said it will contribute to the Amman conference and support the implementation of its outcomes.