Indonesia Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening International Humanitarian Law and Global Humanitarian Diplomacy
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) as part of its support for global humanitarian diplomacy.
Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir emphasized this commitment during a meeting with Vincent Ochilet, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
“Indonesia supports the role of the ICRC as an impartial institution in humanitarian issues, including in the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza and the distribution of humanitarian aid for Palestine,” Nasir stated, as quoted in an official statement released on Tuesday.
Nasir also acknowledged and appreciated the ICRC’s cooperation with Indonesia at the national level in advancing international humanitarian law. He highlighted Indonesia’s role in global efforts to reinforce IHL, particularly through the recently launched Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment on International Humanitarian Law in September 2024. The initiative aims to address rising violations of IHL in conflict zones, including Palestine.
As part of its active participation in this initiative, Indonesia will serve as one of the co-chairs of the “Updating Naval Warfare Rules” working group.
During the discussions, Nasir and Ochilet reviewed the scope of ICRC collaborations with Indonesia for 2025. Key initiatives include organizing the ICRC Annual Briefing with all relevant ministries and institutions, as well as planned cooperation with religious communities to explore the relationship between IHL and Islamic values and law.
The partnership between Indonesia and the ICRC in humanitarian aid distribution has also been further strengthened. Ochilet expressed his appreciation for Indonesia’s contributions in facilitating humanitarian aid for Palestine, Afghanistan, and Myanmar through the ICRC in 2024.
Indonesia is currently exploring new opportunities for cooperation with the ICRC to expand humanitarian aid efforts for Palestine in 2025.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, Nasir and Ochilet also discussed avenues for enhancing ICRC’s engagement with ASEAN in humanitarian assistance and IHL advancement, including through collaboration with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
“Indonesia’s support for the implementation of the ICRC’s humanitarian mandate aligns with the constitutional mandate to participate in advancing global peace and security,” Nasir emphasized.
Indonesia’s ongoing collaboration with the ICRC underscores its unwavering commitment to upholding humanitarian principles and strengthening international legal frameworks in addressing global crises.
