10
November
2015
|
09:00
Europe/London
The oldest war crime in the book
- Summit follows attacks on hospitals in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan
- Debate, entitled Aid Under Fire, will take place on Wednesday, November 11
Aid Under Fire
The University of Manchester, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders/ MSF) will come together to discuss attacks on medical facilities in conflict zones.
The humanitarian summit follows attacks on hospitals in Syria and Yemen and the USA admission, last month, over the bombing of a facility in Kunduz, Afghanistan.
A debate, entitled Aid Under Fire, will take place on Wednesday, November 11, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at The University of Manchester.
The University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) works with the ICRC and MSF, NGOs and government to rigorously research and influence humanitarian response and policy on a global scale. HCRI staff also work on the frontline of disaster response.
“
Whether tactical or strategic the destruction of a hospital is undoubtedly in violation of the Geneva Convention and can be classified as a war crime. It is the oldest war crime in the book
Professor Bertrand Taithe
„
Professor Bertrand Taithe, Executive Director of the HCRI at The University of Manchester, said: “Whether tactical or strategic the destruction of a hospital is undoubtedly in violation of the Geneva Convention and can be classified as a war crime. It is the oldest war crime in the book.
“Humanitarian aid is under fire. The recent bombings of hospitals in Syria and Yemen and the US admission over Kunduz, in Afghanistan, bring a renewed urgency to the need to address this problem on a global scale. The University of Manchester will host the only meeting in the UK of these vitally important organisations to discuss this pressing topic in the hope of shaping a response.”
The following people will take part in the debate:
- Prof Bertrand Taithe, HCRI Executive Director
- Bruno Jochum, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Markus Geisser, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Dr Rony Brauman, MSF President 1982-1994, HCRI Director
- Martin Browne, Associate Researcher Manchester International Law Centre
To arrange an interview with one of the speakers, journalists should contact the Media Relations Team. Members of the public can attend to register via this link.