The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, said Monday that international humanitarian law (IHL) is “under strain” due to “noncompliance.”

In a speech given to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Spoljaric raised concerns about “overly permissive interpretations” of IHL. She pointed to the violations of IHL occurring in war zones globally, including attacks on schools and hospitals, various obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid, and the increasing number of humanitarian workers killed in the field.

She called on states to implement and strengthen IHL and urged parties to armed conflicts to recommit to the Geneva Conventions. Spoljaric said that states should rectify and uphold IHL treaties, make tangible, humanitarian improvements in conflict zones and ensure that new warfare technologies adhere to IHL with clear regulatory frameworks.

The four Geneva Conventions, signed in 1949, and their three Additional Protocols are international treaties that set rules and legal standards which apply during war, protecting civilians, medics, aid workers, and those who are wounded, sick, or captured.

On the anniversary, numerous organizations voiced their concerns and emphisized the enduring relevance of the Geneva Conventions. The German Foreign Office said on X that “war is not lawless. 75 years ago today, the Geneva Conventions were signed … Germany continues to support the important work of the ICRC.” Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said on X, that “Member States … have failed in their responsibilities to respect the conventions and ensure that parties to the conflict respect them under all circumstances.”

At the end of the speech, Spoljaric praised the Geneva Conventions, saying that they, “embody universal values. They serve as a common denominator of humanity. They are essential to preventing the worst effects of war, and ensuring that everyone, even an enemy, is treated as a human being. Any other path is a betrayal of the commitment taken following the lessons learnt from the Second World War.”