Marcos creates interagency committee to promote int’l humanitarian law
President Marcos has created an interagency committee to promote the government’s compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and increase the public’s awareness of protecting individuals who are not actively involved in wars or armed conflicts.
Executive Order (EO) 77 repealed EO 134 issued in 1999, which established an ad hoc committee to raise awareness of IHL by organizing programs and activities for IHL Day every August 12.
In his directive, the President cited Resolution No. 9 adopted during the 2019 International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The resolution encouraged member states, including the Philippines, to establish their respective national committees that will assist authorities in implementing IHL within their jurisdictions.
IHL is a set of legal standards and rules aimed at protecting those who are not directly, or who are no longer directly or actively, participating in wars or armed conflicts.
The Philippines is a state party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which require nations to ensure the humane treatment of wounded or captured military personnel, medical personnel and non-military civilians during wars or armed conflicts.
Composition
Under EO 77, the interagency committee on IHL will be co-chaired by the Defense Secretary and the Foreign Affairs Secretary.
The committee members may designate their respective alternates, whose ranks should not be lower than Assistant Secretary and who will be fully authorized to decide for or on their behalf.
The interagency committee will convene at least once every quarter or as often as necessary as determined by its co-chairpersons.
Program and activities
The interagency committee is tasked to advise and assist government agencies in implementing, developing and raising public awareness of IHL.
It will plan and implement year-round programs and activities to promote IHL and other relevant treaties, international agreements, and other instruments to which the Philippines is a party.
This includes the annual observance of IHL Day every August 12.
The interagency committee will recommend effective implementation and compliance with IHL to relevant government agencies.
The committee will coordinate and collaborate with government agencies, non-government agencies, civil society groups, the academe, and other stakeholders in promoting and complying with IHL.
It will also serve as a focal point for coordination and cooperation between the Philippine government and external partners in promoting and complying with IHL before, during and after wars or armed conflicts.
The interagency committee is also mandated to monitor government agencies’ compliance with IHL and report violations of IHL to relevant authorities.
EO 77 stated that the funding requirements for the operations of the interagency committee on IHL will be charged against the available appropriations of its member agencies.
For subsequent years, its funding requirements will be included in the budget proposals of the member agencies, subject to the deliberation and approval of Congress.
In addition, the inter-agency committee will craft the necessary guidelines to implement Executive Order 77, including mechanisms for coordinating and consulting with the public, NGOs and civil society groups.
