IPC and ICRC Inaugurate Day One of GIHLI Policy Dialogue in Islamabad

 

Islamabad, 16 September 2025 – The International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), premiered the opening day of their Two-Day Policy Dialogue-cum-Seminar on the Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative (GIHLI) today.
The event convened parliamentarians and government stakeholders to explore the critical role of legislators in implementing international law and safeguarding human dignity during conflicts.
The proceedings began with introductory remarks from IPC and ICRC leadership, Senator Sitara Ayaz , the Secretary General IPC and Mr. Christoph Sutter, the head of the delegation of ICRC Pakistan. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed then led the first session, examining how lawmakers influence treaty ratification, legislative enactments, and oversight mechanisms.
The Guest of Honour, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information & Public Relations, emphasized the urgency for effective parliamentary mechanisms to ensure that international humanitarian obligations are translated into enforceable domestic legislation
Following this, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, shared his insights as the event’s chief guest. As the current federal minister responsible for parliamentary coordination, he underscored the importance of legislative leadership in upholding International Humanitarian Law across national institutions
The other session included a comprehensive overview of ICRC’s mandate and humanitarian work, an introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) – its foundational principles, scope, and modern application and the presentation on the Global IHL Initiative (GIHLI), detailing its objectives, state-led structure, and Pakistan’s prospective contributions.
This marks the second occasion IPC and ICRC have organized this dialogue in Pakistan, reaffirming their shared commitment to equipping parliamentarians with the knowledge and tools to raise their voice for the implementation of IHL both domestically and globally.