Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, would like to commend the member for Moreton for bringing forth this incredibly important motion. I also echo the sentiments that were just put forward by the member for Riverina. There is a lot more that unites us in this chamber than divides us, and international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions is exactly one of those things.

The number of armed conflicts right across the globe is at an all-time high. We know that the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia has shaken that region and the world. There are many other armed conflicts across the globe. More than 110 conflicts are currently happening worldwide, with 2021 to 2023 being some of the deadliest years on record for our planet. There is not a more important time than now to acknowledge the incredible importance of international humanitarian law, also known as the laws of war.

Seventy-five years ago, on 12 August 1949, the cornerstone instruments of international humanitarian law were signed. The four Geneva Conventions set out protections for civilians, humanitarians, journalists, prisoners of war—those that are outside the fight, outside the battlefield. They were agreed by countries right across this world, and they remain a beacon of humanity in these troubling times. They set out the world's agreement that wars have limits. They set out how, regardless of the circumstances, respect for human dignity and respect for human compassion must always guide the actions of parties to armed conflict. Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian relief must be provided, and those who provide humanitarian and medical services must be protected.

Now, we are introducing this motion at a critical time, when the unacceptable cost of armed conflict demands a renewed commitment to our common humanity. We use the opportunity of this important anniversary to reiterate Australia's commitment to promote the protective power of the Geneva conventions and their ability, when duly observed, to protect the safety, dignity and wellbeing of those who are made most vulnerable in times of war and in times of conflict. We call on all states and all parties to conflict to uphold these universally accepted laws. States and parties to conflict must lead by example. Ultimately, respect for international humanitarian law is a question of political will, and we call on states to create a global culture of compliance with international humanitarian law.

Australia is dedicated to alleviating human suffering and protecting civilians in times of armed conflict through the application of this international humanitarian law. We have been a strong supporter of the Geneva conventions since we first signed them in 1950, and we have ratified all three additional protocols. In this divided world, where conflict is rampant, it remains a powerful fact that every state has ratified these laws of war. Every state in the world has decided that limiting the human cost of war is their legal and moral obligation.

We also acknowledge the many neutral and impartial humanitarian actors who continue to provide important and life-saving work for those impacted by the devastation of war. We know that one of those is the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Over the last 160 years, the international Red Cross has carried out its work in many international and armed conflicts, developing its activities as the needs arose, monitoring the conditions of prisoners of war and other detainees, and providing medical and humanitarian relief. Likewise, the national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, like the Australian Red Cross, are there to promote and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. They work with humanitarians to ensure they're prepared to operate in armed conflict, train corporations with a footprint in armed conflict, support training for Australian Defence Force personnel and protect the Red Cross emblems—which does, in fact, save lives in times of conflict.

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