UK Statement at the Global International Humanitarian Law Dialogue
Delivered at the Global IHL Dialogue on 3 November 2026 in Geneva.
The UK is a proud Co-Chair of Workstream 2 and was among the first States to join the ‘Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law’. We recognise the importance of the implementation and dissemination of international humanitarian law (“IHL”) and the role our National IHL Committee has in that effort. We fully support the objective of the Initiative to reinforce States’ commitment to IHL and to promote practical measures to strengthen implementation of IHL as well as to address novel challenges, such as those arising from new technologies. The Outcome Documents in many respects already align with UK policy and practice.
We welcome the recognition by a number of panellists at the Global IHL Dialogue that the Outcome Documents do not establish new legal obligations, undermine or modify existing obligations or contribute to the creation of customary international law. The focus of the Initiative is on practical guidance and implementation. A clear distinction is to be made between what is required under IHL and what constitutes good practices or policy measures. The best practical guidance provides flexibility to allow for the application of the core legal rules in intense operational environments.
We understand that the Outcome Documents do not necessarily reflect the views of all States and there is not settled agreement on many issues, including, for example, in Workstream 6 on data as an object for the purposes of IHL, identifying a freestanding principle of precaution divorced from the principle of proportionality, and the sort of conduct that amounts to an attack. Nor does UK support for the Initiative and its various Workstreams necessarily constitute endorsement of every aspect of the Outcome Documents. However, the UK believes the consultations and Outcome Documents have been enormously helpful in identifying the sorts of measures that comport with the Initiative’s aims under each of the Workstreams and we trust that the Outcome Documents will be a useful resource for States.
We very much appreciate the work of the ICRC and all States and stakeholders who contributed to the Outcome Documents and to the Initiative more generally, including the Global IHL Dialogue. We look forward to further dialogue and working with others on these important, emerging issues and on other matters to strengthen respect for IHL.
Thank you.