Comply with international humanitarian law
20-21 October 2016 in St. Petersburg in the Tauride Palace hosted an international conference “The use of weapons inmodern conflicts: humanitarian aspects “, organized byInterparliamentary Assembly of CIS member states, together with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The event was attended by representatives of parliaments, ministries of foreign affairs, defense, justice and other public bodies and non-governmental organizations and civil Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other CIS countries.
Conference Participants welcomed the work CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, aimed at raising
effectiveness of implementation of the norms of the international treaties in the process of humanitarian law in national legislation of CIS states, stressing the important role of international organizations, UN agencies, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the ICRC,
other humanitarian, human rights and scientific organizations in the development and implementation of new rules of international humanitarian law, governing the use of weapons.
The conference reaffirmed the commitment and determination of their states’ in all circumstances to respect and ensure respect “for international humanitarian law in accordance with Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, bearing in mind that more than strict compliance with international humanitarian law is a necessary condition for improving the situation of the victims of armed
conflicts and other situations of violence.
The conference discussed the danger of catastrophic and long-term consequences that may result from the use of nuclear weapons, including those for human health, the environment, climate, food and social and economic development.
Special emotional to the conference added the representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Honorary Ambassador on ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov, highlighting the harmful and tragic
the impact of nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk nuclear test site human health, the environment and socio-economic life in the settlements located around the test area held. They showed a video on the effects of nuclear tests conducted in Semipalatinsk test site, and leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the decision to close this landfill forever. K. Kuyuk halt all conference participants
to sign a petition in support of the nuclear test ban within ATOM Project implementation.
The conference participants agreed that it is important to continue international dialogue on existing fundamental principles in the choice of means and methods of warfare in especially of explosive weapon, having a large radius of destruction, the use of which leads to a long-term detrimental consequences for human health and the environment.
The adoption of the outcome of the conference was a call by International Red Cross and Red Crescent to all States “voluntarily maintain and promptly and decisively to complete the negotiations on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons and ts complete destruction through the conclusion of a legally binding an international agreement based on existing international and other liabilities. ”
MFA Press Service