In unison with international celebrations, a regional Arab conference marking the 50th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions was held in Cairo under the auspices of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak. In a keynote address at the conference's opening session, Mrs Mubarak highlighted the fact that the two basic pillars upon which the international legislative framework is based are the principles of human rights as set by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rules of international humanitarian law, established by the four Geneva Conventions a year later. Indeed, international humanitarian law and international human rights law are complementary. International rules on the protection of human rights oblige states to recognise and respect a number of basic rights of the individual.
Humanitarian law does the same in times of armed conflict.
It enjoins the parties to a conflict to respect and preserve the lives and dignity of captured enemy soldiers or of civilians, and restricts the means of warfare employed. On the eve of the 21st century, this anniversary is more than simply a commemoration. Although great expectations were pinned on the lofty principles of these conventions by the international community, international law sometimes failed to coerce aggressors to abide by its rules. Contemporary humanitarian law has evolved in stages, all too often after the events for which they were sorely needed. Today, practically all states are party to the 1949 conventions and their Additional Protocols of 1977.