The 2025 IHL Summer School, organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross, has concluded
The Summer School on International Humanitarian Law (IHL Summer School) aims to enhance knowledge of IHL among civil servants and support the implementation of its provisions at the national level. Its unique format fosters the exchange of experience, discussion of current challenges, and exploration of ways to address them — all to help save lives and ensure effective assistance for victims of war. This year’s event brought together over 60 participants, including representatives of Ukrainian government agencies and foreign delegates.
The training programme focused on the practical application of international humanitarian law in the daily work of civil servants. Sessions were delivered by leading international and Ukrainian IHL experts.
Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, stated:
“This event is one of the key initiatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross. Its goal is to deepen understanding of IHL, which is especially vital for Ukraine today. These are not just legal norms — they are rules that can save lives. We are working systematically to make IHL more accessible and understandable. I would like to emphasise that IHL cannot function without political will, and Ukraine is already demonstrating this will. We support Ukraine’s involvement in global initiatives to strengthen IHL and welcome the renewed work of the Interdepartmental Commission, where the Ukrainian Red Cross plays an advisory role.”
Jürg Eglin, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation in Ukraine, and Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, also addressed the participants. The latter emphasised:
“First of all, I would like to thank the Red Cross Society for organising this event. This year, the school will cover topics such as humanitarian assistance, the treatment of prisoners of war, the protection of civilians — including children — and the effectiveness of humanitarian mechanisms. We must acknowledge that these issues are highly relevant.”
This year’s IHL Summer School, organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross, brought together a record number of representatives from the International Movement, including delegates from the Danish Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, British Red Cross, Lithuanian Red Cross, and the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.
The Ukrainian Red Cross remains a reliable partner of the state in implementing international humanitarian law.
