It is well known that African societies are shaped by custom and tradition. African thought, deeply imbued with humanism, has given birth to concepts and practices that place these societies among the world's humanitarian civilizations. With the advent of the colonial era and the establishment of institutions based on foreign values, the manifestations of African ideas was put into abeyance. Subsequent independence, while giving African States the opportunity to participate alongside other nations in constructing a universal civilization, paradoxically brought the continent face to face with a dilemma in regard to economic, political, social and cultural matters: the choice between the wholesale adoption of foreign, particularly European, models, or a radical return to ancestral traditions. However, humanitarian concerns are among the few that can—and should—transcend such Manichean considerations.

It is commonly accepted that education in human rights may be one of the most effective tools in promoting the observance of those rights. Those whose profession entails the exercise of power over others have an obvious need to know the limits of their power and members of the armed forces represent just such a group. Their acts engage the responsibility of their State under human rights treaties, wherever those acts are committed. Some instruction in human rights law, particularly non-derogable rights, is therefore necessary but the body of rules which imposes the greatest prohibitions and restraints on the conduct of armed forces is humanitarian law. That term is used here as including both “The Hague law”, which imposes limits on the means and methods of warfare, and “Geneva law”, which seeks to protect certain victims of the conflict, such as the wounded and sick in the field, the wounded, sick and shipwrecked at sea, prisoners of war and civilians living under belligerent occupation. The latter body of rules was updated in 1977 by the addition of two Protocols which extended the range of protection by incorporating elements of “The Hague law”. The 1949 Geneva Conventions have been ratified by 166 States and Hague Convention IV, with which we shall principally be dealing, was held by the Nuremberg Tribunal to represent customary international law. To all intents and purposes then, every State is bound by the two bodies of rules. In addition, the 1977 Protocols are binding on those States which have ratified them.

A neutral Power may authorize the passage over its territory of the sick and wounded belonging to the belligerent armies, on condition that the trains bringing them shall carry neither personnel nor war material. In such a case, the neutral Power is bound to take whatever measures of safety and control are necessary for the purpose (Hague Conv. No. V, Art. 14). (Personnel and materials necessary to treat the sick and wounded are consequently authorized).

The idea of the Red Cross was born of suffering, suffering in war. It was followed by humanitarian action for the benefit of all humanity, and has been enhanced with the knowledge and experience gained throughout the many years of its long history.

We have seen how one man, a good man, struck with compassion for those who were suffering, was able to arouse that same compassion and will to help in many hitherto indifferent people, how he was able to convince them to give what was best in them to a noble humanitarian cause. In doing their humanitarian work, these people did not ask who was friend and who was foe. Only one thing mattered: to alleviate suffering and save human lives.

Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, President of the ICRC, Mr. Michel Convers, head of the ICRC's Operational Support Department and Mr. Andreas Lendorff, head of its General Relief Division, were in Brussels from 8 to 11 February to take part in celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of the Belgian Red Cross and to meet representatives of the Belgian Government and the European Community.

The National Society's 125th anniversary ceremony took place on 9 February in the presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, members of the Government and the diplomatic corps, representatives of other National Societies and 2,000 Belgian Red Cross volunteers. Speeches were made by H.R.H. Prince Albert of Belgium, who is President of the National Society, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, Mr. Mario Villarroel Lander, President of the League, and the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Dominica Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 15 March 1989, brings to 148 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The new Society applied for recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross on 13 December 1988. In support of its application it forwarded various documents, including a report on its activities, the text of its Statutes and a copy of governmental decree No. 5/83 adopted by the House of Assembly on 7 March 1983, signed by the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica on 25 March 1983 and published in the Official Gazette on 7 April 1983. This attests that the Dominica Red Cross Society is recognized by the Government as a voluntary aid society auxiliary to the public authorities in accordance with the provisions of the First Geneva Convention of 1949.

On 4 January, after a suspension of more than five months, the ICRC was able to resume its flights in the country, starting with the provinces of Manica and Sofala. Delegates flew to several isolated districts to assess the needs of the civilian population there and to provide people with the relief they required. Heavy rains, however, repeatedly prevented the planes from landing and impeded the delegates' work.

ICRC delegates continued visiting security detainees held by the Ministry of Security who were either awaiting trial or had already been sentenced. In January, they visited Quelimane Prison, and in February they went to Temba (Cabo Delgado Province), Lichinga and Cuamba (Niassa Province) Prisons. They began visiting prisons in the country on 27 June 1988 and have now been to all the detention centres in the capital and the provinces under the authority of the Ministry of Security.

During its November 1987 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the Council of Delegates adopted a programme (Resolution No. 7) to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. For one event it was decided that all States would be asked to make an exceptional “Humanitarian Gesture” on 8 May 1989, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This gesture was intended to restore a sense of hope and dignity to people or groups of people who are destitute, in despair or forgotten.

The representatives of 24 national associations of journalists from the African continent together with nine international organizations (including UNESCO, UNHCR and UNDRO) took part in a seminar held in Tunis from 7 to 11 February on the theme “Humanity and the media”.

Organized jointly by the ICRC and the Union of African journalists (UAJ) in collaboration with the Association of Tunisian Journalists, this meeting was the second of its kind; the first one took place in Nairobi in 1985 and dealt with the theme “African Journalists and International Humanitarian Law”.

The ICRC was very sad to hear of the death of Justice J. A. Adefarasin, President of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from 1977 to 1981 and National President of the Nigerian Red Cross. His election as head of the world federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies marked an important stage in the history of the League, further enhancing the spirit of universality which has inspired its work since 1919.

Judge Adefarasin was also able to give the League the benefit of his long experience in the service of the Red Cross and with his personal qualities of open-mindedness, moderation and altruism set a high example of devotion to the Red Cross ideal.