The session, conducted in Spanish, gathered an audience interested in going beyond the causes and actors of armed conflicts to focus on the situation of the victims and the protection and care that their suffering requires. Concepción Escobar, Head of the Red Cross Center for International Humanitarian Law Studies—who has also led, among other institutions, the Office of the International Legal Advisor at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Spain’s Representative to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea—offered a deep overview of the topic. Throughout her career, she has received numerous honors, including the Gran Cruz al Mérito Civil, the Encomienda de Número de Isabel la Católica, and the Cruz de Plata de la Guardia Civil.

Professor Escobar began her presentation by highlighting two key facts: currently, there are 120 active armed conflicts in the world, all involving non-state actors, and 60 of them are armed conflicts between states. She also noted that, as a direct consequence of these conflicts, around 300 million people required of humanitarian assistance and protection, in addition to suffering the indirect effects of war, such as forced displacement and the destruction of agricultural systems and infrastructure.

Escobar pointed out that the international community should focus more on protecting victims, highlighting the humanitarian work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which she described as “the largest humanitarian network in the world,” adding that it is “present in all cultures and religions without discrimination.” She recalled the Battle of Solferino in 1862 to mark the founding of the organization and the first independent international relief action in history, led by the Swiss Henry Dunant, who assisted thousands of wounded soldiers on the Franco-Prussian battlefield. Upon returning to Switzerland, Dunant founded the Red Cross Movement.

Regarding the protection of victims, Escobar emphasized the need for a legal framework of rules and instruments to regulate aspects of warfare—such as the types of weapons used, the legality of attacks, and the treatment of prisoners—in order to make war more humane and ensure the proper treatment of its victims. She highlighted the role of the Central Tracing Agency, which is responsible for locating and identifying prisoners and notifying the relevant authorities of their status.

In today’s context, new challenges have emerged, especially in terms of protecting victims due to the evolving nature of conflicts. Among these, urban war—as seen in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine—presents specific problems, such as the difficulty for humanitarian actors to access affected areas, and the blurring of lines between civilians and combatants. Hybrid war—which uses misinformation to confuse both civilians and enemies—cyber war and terrorism are becoming increasingly relevant in modern armed conflicts. Professor Escobar also pointed to the rise of non-state actors, who often blend in with the civilian population, complicating humanitarian efforts, as well as the current technological landscape, where digital tools are being used as weapons in cyberattacks against hospitals and humanitarian facilities.

These developments have led to new challenges and needs regarding victim assistance. The situation has changed so significantly that responding only to military attacks is no longer sufficient—it now requires enhanced humanitarian support, security guarantees, and protection mechanisms during the post-conflict phase, where development cooperation becomes essential. In many cases, although the protection of victims is a duty of states, authorities lack the time and resources to fulfill this responsibility. As a result, humanitarian organizations are left to provide all necessary assistance. Concepción Escobar explained that this leads to considerable difficulties. For example, sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies prevent the Red Cross and Red Crescent from delivering aid or receiving funding from individuals, states, or organizations subject to sanctions. This severely hampers the work of humanitarian organizations, which rely on funding from states and international donors.

In closing, Professor Escobar highlighted one of the major achievements of International Humanitarian Law and the Red Cross Movement: the adoption of protective emblems to reduce attacks on humanitarian workers. She also mentioned a new project aimed at creating digital emblems, particularly for hospitals and humanitarian headquarters, to help prevent cyberattacks.

The virtual session concluded with a discussion moderated by INCIPE’s Director General, Vicente Garrido. Participants raised questions on the topics covered, and the conversation emphasized the importance of reporting violations of humanitarian law, protecting civilians from terrorism, and remembering other ongoing conflicts around the world.

Marina Urizarna
Communication Assistant, INCIPE