Currently, there is a dangerous erosion of respect for international humanitarian law as codified in the Geneva Conventions. One stark example is the fighting in the eastern area of the Democratic Republic of Congo where fighting is led by the armed militia M23 - short for the name Movement of March 23. There are serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law with massive displacement of populations, plundering of villages, systematic rape of women, summary executions, and the use of child soldiers
There are a number of different armed militias in the eastern Congo, each with its own interests and aims. One grouping of militias, known as the Wazalendo, the term for "patriots" in Swahili, is opposed to the M23 but is not part of the regular military of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There have been discussions within the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and humanitarian organizations as to the status of nongovernmental militias with respect to international humanitarian law such as the Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Houthistes in Yemen where the danger of violence from outside forces grows.
Nongovernmental forces have become more frequent in armed conflicts, but only governments can sign the Geneva Conventions.
The Association of World Citizens (AWC) played a key role in having a coalition of armed groups fighting in Burma sign the Geneva Conventions in January 1993. The signatures were deposited with the Swiss Government which is the depository power for the Geneva Conventions. The signatures were considered as "symbolic" as the coalition of militias was not a government. However, the signature by the coalition led to a mutual exchange of prisoners showing that the signature was taken seriously by the Burmese government, then as now under the control of the military.
This example shows that there is an important role that humanitarian nongovernmental organizations can play in increasing respect for international humanitarian law - a task which must be undertaken with urgency.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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