GHO 2025 launch in Geneva: “Upholding International Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict”

GHO 2025 Event in Geneva

Upholding International Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict
10:30 - 12:00 GMT+1 
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On 4 December 2024, OCHA, will host three launches of the 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) in Geneva, Switzerland; in Kuwait City, Kuwait (in partnership with the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and in Nairobi, Kenya (in partnership with the African Union). 

The overarching theme of the GHO 2025 launch is “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities”, reflecting the collective commitment to inclusive and effective humanitarian action. The event in Geneva will add a specific focus on the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the protection of civilians.

Conflicts continue to dominate the global humanitarian landscape and are the primary driver of displacement, hunger and vulnerability. Protracted conflicts, such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Sudan, the Sahel and Yemen, in addition to the recent escalation in conflicts in the Middle East, have led to massive displacement, widespread food insecurity, acute protection concerns and catastrophic levels of civilian suffering. These conflicts take place in the context of climate change, which is exacerbating the devastating impact of floods, drought and disease. The erosion of respect for IHL has had horrific consequences for civilians- increasingly caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted - and for the infrastructure they depend upon. Humanitarian aid workers face growing insecurity and risk and operate in increasingly dangerous environments, raising serious concern. Partial figures for 2024 indicate 156,000 civilians lost their lives due to conflict, an increase of four per cent from 2023. 

Upholding IHL remains an urgent imperative to protect civilians in conflict zones and ensure rapid and unimpeded provision of impartial humanitarian assistance to those in need. It is urgent for the international community to take steps to prevent attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, ensure respect for IHL and the protection of civilians, find political solutions to end conflicts, and provide the necessary financial support to deliver aid to vulnerable communities.

The launch of the GHO 2025 in Geneva will focus on conflict-driven crises and the need for full compliance with IHL. This event will shed light on the catastrophic impact conflicts have on civilians and humanitarian operations, personnel and facilities. With conflicts becoming more entrenched, compounded with the complexity of contemporary warfare, ensuring compliance with IHL and the protection of civilians is paramount. The event will also address the severe funding gap that threatens to undermine global humanitarian response in 2025.