Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Practical measures to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law, protect civilians and ensure the humanitarian use of new technologies were at the centre of discussions at a global forum in Geneva.
The Global Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) was held on 3–4 November 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG). It was organised by the Swiss Confederation in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan, took part in the event.
The dialogue was led by Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the ICRC.
The main event of the forum was the presentation of the final documents of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. The documents cover seven thematic areas and were prepared following five rounds of consultations involving representatives from more than 160 countries.
Protecting civilians and addressing new challenges
The first day opened with a plenary session entitled “From Global Consultations to Global Action”. Three thematic roundtables followed, focusing on strengthening respect for international humanitarian law in society, protecting civilian life-support systems and ensuring the humane application of new technologies.
The first part of the forum concluded with a high-level plenary discussion entitled “IHL and Peace”, during which participants examined the role of international humanitarian law amid contemporary armed conflicts.
The second day focused primarily on practical implementation of the Global Initiative’s recommendations.
Participants discussed national measures to incorporate IHL provisions into domestic law, international cooperation and the exchange of experience between countries. Particular attention was given to mechanisms for monitoring compliance with commitments, including the preparation of voluntary reports on the implementation of international humanitarian law.
Uzbekistan’s participation in the international dialogue
During the event, Saidov attended plenary meetings and thematic sessions, reviewed the Global Initiative’s final documents and familiarised himself with other countries’ experience in incorporating international humanitarian law into their national legal systems.
The discussions in Geneva are intended to support further international cooperation on human rights protection and humanitarian principles, particularly efforts to safeguard civilians and uphold humanitarian standards during armed conflicts.
The Global Dialogue was one of the preparatory stages for the high-level conference “Humanity in War”, scheduled to take place in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 7 December 2026.
The upcoming meeting is expected to continue discussions on practical mechanisms for strengthening political commitment to international humanitarian law.
