Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stressed the urgent need to prioritize international humanitarian law (IHL) in political agendas to help reduce suffering and support peace. During her first official visit to the Philippines from August 19 to 21, 2025, she highlighted how IHL protects people even long after fighting stops.
President Spoljaric visited Marawi, the site of the 2017 conflict, where many families are still searching for relatives who went missing. She toured a temporary shelter and the Maqbara cemetery, where unidentified remains lie. More than 300 families remain without answers, and thousands are displaced from their homes. The lasting impact of war lasts years, even decades, and IHL aims to protect people beyond active fighting.
“It’s possible and necessary to bring closure to families of the missing,” Spoljaric said. “The ICRC will keep working with authorities and families to clarify the fate of the missing. Finding answers is key to healing.”
In Manila, she met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and senior officials, including leaders of the Defense and Foreign Affairs departments and the Armed Forces. She praised the Philippines for its strong support of IHL and its role in pushing countries to uphold these vital rules.
“The world faces about 130 conflicts, many intense,” said Spoljaric. “We need more countries to stand behind the rules of war to cut suffering and keep doors open for peace.”
