The International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), successfully organized a two-day workshop for policymakers on International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
The workshop was held on 11th and 12th September 2024 at the IPC Secretariat Islamabad, aimed at strengthening the capacity of parliamentarians and legal representatives in implementing IHL within their respective national and provincial frameworks.The event was attended by the parliamentarians representing all six provincial assemblies, along with officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Senate of Pakistan legislation branch. Participants engaged in insightful discussions on the key concepts of IHL and IHRL, setting the workshop for further discourse on the implementation of these principles.Through interactive sessions, experts from ICRC provided an in-depth understanding of IHL, sparking valuable discussions on its application in Pakistan.
The second day of the workshop was dedicated to practical aspects of implementing IHL in Pakistan and examining critical issues concerning international law. Participants delved into discussions on how IHL can be effectively incorporated into national legislation and explored opportunities for further alignment with international standards. Key topics included humanitarian access, the protection of civilians in conflict, and legal frameworks surrounding armed conflict.
The closing ceremony was marked by remarks from the Head of the ICRC delegation in PakistanMr. Nicolas Lambert and the Secretary-General of IPC, Senator Sitara Ayaz. Both speakers praised the active participation and insightful contributions of the attendees and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between national and international stakeholders.
Senator Mushahid Hussain also shared his valuable thoughts on the subject and had an interactive session with the participants.
The workshop was well-received by the participants, who commended the initiative for its relevance and the depth of the discussions. Many expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage with experts and policymakers on such a crucial subject, underlining the importance of continued dialogue and capacity-building efforts.
