International Humanitarian Law and the Responsibility to Protect
The responsibility to protect is a principle in International Law to which Sweden attaches great importance. It emphasises human dignity and places the rights of the individual at the centre.
Conflict not only leaves physical scars but also destroys social infrastructure, which in turn undermines development. Security, development and human rights are mutually reinforcing. Societies that do not have democratic and accountable institutions and are unable to deal with crises in a peaceful manner also lack the possibility to develop and prosper.
The Swedish Delegation for International Law at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Delegation has the primary task of taking new initiatives to stimulate
development and discussion of humanitarian law. The principal legal advisor on International Law, Ms. Marie Jacobsson, holds a seat on the International Law Commission.
Gender Perspectives on International Humanitarian Law
A few years ago the Delegation decided to examine international humanitarian law from a gender perspective, building on the important work that governmental and non-governmental organisations, researchers and others had done with respect to women and war.
Previously, ‘Gender aspects’ were often synonymous with women's aspects. The gender issue was merely dealt with in the context of the perceived traditional roles of men and women. Men were seldom included except as analysed within their traditional roles. There was little focus on men as the caretakers, and women were generally presented as victims
rather than combatants or perpetrators.
On October 4-5, 2007 Sweden hosted an informal expert meeting in cooperation with the Swedish National Defence College, the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law at Melbourne University in Australia and the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
Report: ‘Gender Perspectives on International Humanitarian Law’
Last edited 2008-01-18
