The author of this article, Cornelio Sommaruga, was President of the ICRC between 1987 and 1999. In it he draws some conclusions from his long experience and also looks to the future. In his opinion, some of the main challenges facing the humanitarian community may be summarized as follows, namely, to stop the criminalization of war, to clarify the purpose of humanitarian action, to understand the victims' interests, to link ethics and international relations, to make humanitarians more receptive to other considerations of civil society. In his closing remarks the author invites all those interested in the future of humanitarian action to reflect on what must be done to tackle extreme poverty, to safeguard the natural environment, to increase respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, to improve the status of women and to prevent natural disasters. — Rejecting a fatalistic approach, the author calls for action.

Au cours des années 90, l'intérêt de la recherche et de la pratique sʼest tourné vers la prévention de conflits, cʼest-à-dire toute activité tendant à gérer ou à résoudre des situations conflictuelles avant quʼelles ne dégénèrent en affrontement ouvert et violent. Cet article examine les possibilités et les chances de succès d'actions de prévention entreprises, soit par un État, soit dans un contexte multilatéral. L'expérience des dernières années démontre clairement que les États ne souhaitent pas sʼexposer dans un conflit qui ne les concerne pas directement. Les conflits d'aujour d'hui en appellent done à des stratégies plus complexes, et seule une approche multilatérale a une chance d'aboutir à des résultats satisfaisants. Il existe aujourd'hui un grand nombre d'organisations gouvernementales et non gouvernementales — universelles et régionales, grandes et petites —, chacune avec un mode d'action bien distinct, ce qui permet l'engagement de l'une ou de l'autre, selon les données de la situation.

Si la population civile est trop souvent la cible principale des hostilités, notamment lors des conflits armés non internationaux, les femmes, elles, sont régulièrement les victimes les plus durement affectées. Les traités de droit international humanitaire contiennent des dispositions spéciales destinées à protéger les femmes dans la guerre, en particulier contre les actes de violence sexuelle. L'auteur de cet article élargit le débat pour examiner également la situation de la femme en sa qualité de mère ou de chef de famille, car, lorsque les hommes sont au combat, ce sont les femmes qui assurent la survie de la famille et de la communauté. Les dispositions des Conventions de Genève et de leurs Protocoles additionnels sont passées en revue, tant pour les conflits armés internationaux que non internationaux. Pour conclure, l'auteur donne une information intermédiate sur l'étude y relative, en cours d'élaboration au CICR, à la demande de la XXVIIe Conférence Internationale de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge.

After reviewing the provisions of international humanitarian law relating to water, the author offers some thoughts on the nature of the legal protection accorded this resource in time of war. The lack of a proper and autonomous legal framework for protecting water would appear to be explained, on the one hand, by the many roles that water can play — for example, as a weapon, target or victim — and, on the other, by the very manner in which it is treated in international humanitarian law. Water is taken into account only in connection with that body of law's basic objectives of protecting victims of war and regulating the conduct of hostilities — and even then only in its capacity as one of man's basic needs, or as a danger, or as part of the natural environment. Water as such is not given legal protection. This arrangement may be inadequate, but it is enough to serve as a firm basis for improvement. In view of research carried out recently on international rules on the use of water in peacetime, a fresh look should be taken at the status of water in the law of armed conflict. A better understanding of the issue's complexities will mean better protection for “blue gold”.

Humanitarian affairs are now a major factor in international relations. Assistance to victims of armed conflict or natural disasters play an important role in policy debates at the domestic level, in international and non-international organizations and in the media. Budgets for international emergency aid are growing while development aid dwindles. Charity has become the answer to all ills, and the “victim” is a symbol of our time. After having examined some of the recent humanitarian crises and discussed relevant policy issues, the author puts forward several proposals to change policies and institutions. He advocates reinforcing conditions which will enable the principles enshrined in the UN Charter to be put into effect and, at the same time, will diminish the need, and space, for charity.

“Humanitarian” (as in “humanitarian action” or “humanitarian endeavour”) has become a household word in recent times. Often it has been distinctly misused, as in the expression “humanitarian intervention”. The author of this article, a senior ICRC staff member, gives a reminder that humanitarian action is intended above all to safeguard and promote the welfare of human beings and to shield them from violence and the abuse of power. He then discusses several policy issues which explain or support humanitarian policy. To sum up, he draws some conclusions which should preserve the true nature of humanitarian action in the present circumstances. In particular, he urges that a diversified approach be adopted to achieve the common goal, namely, to protect people in distress.

Any mass movement of civilians leaving their homes under the pressure of war creates a number of urgent humanitarian problems. Refugees have to be fed and given shelter and medical care, etc. However, refugees also want to know the whereabouts of and what happened to relatives who stayed at home, were lost on the way or were arrested. It is the task of the ICRC's Central Tracing Agency to restore contact between the victims of conflict situations and, if necessary, to help reunite separated family members, especially children and their parents. The article deals with the last chapter of the Balkan crisis, with its immense and rapid flow of refugees out of Kosovo, and describes the Central Tracing Agency's response to it.

Cet article examine l'éducation au droit humanitaire et le situe en regard d'autres initiatives éducatives, largement groupées sous les termes ‘Éducation à la paix», en general, ou «Éducation aux droits de l'homme» et «Éducation civique», en particulier. On y relève que le droit international humanitaire a un rôle central à jouer dans la définition d'une politique relative à l'éducation de base. L'auteur présente également le projet du CICR «Explorer le droit humanitaire» qui développe du matériel éducatif relatif à cette matière et est destiné à des jeunes âgés de 13 à 18 ans. L'un des buts de ce projet est de renforcer les dispositions du droit international humanitaire sur le droit à l'éducation en période de conflit armé.

This article focusses on the issue of fundamental standards of humanity, a set of principles to reflect both international human rights and humanitarian law, as a means to address the insufficient protection of persons in situations of internal violence. Such fundamental standards of humanity, applicable at all times, in all circumstances and to all parties, are necessary to address four areas: 1) States are not party to international instruments; 2) human rights obligations are derogated from; 3) international humanitarian law is not applicable or is so but is not applied; and 4) non-state actors may not be bound by obligations under international law. The article provides an overview of the steps taken by the international community to address the issue, discusses the sources of international human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law from which fundamental standards of humanity could be drawn, and suggests further steps to be taken. The authors are convinced that fundamental standards of humanity would serve as an educational tool to enhance effective implementation of relevant international law.