In its Judgment of 27 June 1986 in the case concerning “Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua”, the International Court of Justice dealt at length with some of the most vexed questions in humanitarian law. Although the Court had previously touched upon certain problems in this legal field, for example in the Corfu Channel case and that of the Pakistani Prisoners, this was the first time it expressed itself in detail on more general issues, notably on the customary nature of the “general principles” of humanitarian law.

The Canadian Red Cross Society has strongly supported the adoption of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 as logical, essential extensions of the Conventions. The Protocols bring the Conventions of 1949 up to date. They make the true application of international humanitarian law (IHL) in armed conflicts relevant, meaningful and possible in the modern world to fulfil its ultimate aim—to provide protection and assistance to all victims of all conflicts.

Mr. Raúl Alfonsín, President of the Argentine Republic, visited ICRC headquarters on 10 June. He was received by Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, President of the ICRC, accompanied by members of the International Committee and the Directorate. Several representatives of the City and Canton of Geneva were also present.

In May the Ethiopian Government authorized the ICRC delegation in Addis Ababa to resume in part its activities in northern Ethiopia, where the ICRC's assistance operation had had to be suspended in December 1986 by order of the Ethiopian authorities.