Forum on International Humanitarian Law Sessions in Havana

Havana, Cuba, Apr 5 (acn) The 2nd Encounter on International Humanitarian Law kicked off on Wednesday in Havana with participants discussing the importance in the protection of people before situations of conflict and the respect its norms.

The International Committee of the Red Cross of Mexico, Central America and Cuba and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) are sponsors the forum. There are participants from different institutions and high-level officials from Bolivia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Juan Pedro Shearer, Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross told the press that the encounter emphasizes the preparation of exercises for situations of conflict and the preservation of human lives, despite the participating nations not presenting these conditions.

The development of wars in other parts of the world and the enormous suffering inflicted on the population ratifies the importance of discussing these issues that is why we are taking advantage of our relationship with the FAR to organize a second edition of the event, said Shearer.

Latin America is a region free of nuclear weapons, but many countries still have them endangering the security of our planet, said Shearer.

He recognize the experience of Cuba and its Civil Defense in their work in face of natural catastrophes and the island's work in different countries in the world in cases of epidemics and other events of great magnitude.

Colonel Luis Angel Macareño, Second in Command of the Cuban Civil Defense highlighted the importance in raising debates on these issues, especially when wars that break out in the world are moved to cities where a greater number of civilian population are located.

He commented that the use of enormous development of science and technology on behalf of the super powers to produce sophisticated means of mass destruction creates new challenges and we are talking about autonomous lethal weapons in modern combat.

That is why, said Macareño, it is more important than ever to defend the application of the norms and principles of the International Humanitarian Law.

The forum was presided by Division General Ramon Pardo Guerra, Head of the National Civil Defense; Juan Pablo Shearer and Pascal Pinot, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross for the Armed Forces and Security.