Press Release by the Civil Society 7 – Original post available here.
Rome, 26 November 2024
The G7 Ministers Meeting of Foreign Affairs, hosted by Italy in the year of its presidency that is drawing to a close, concludes today in Fiuggi.
An increasingly confrontational and dangerous international context demands an unprecedented global effort to re-establish a multilateral system that promotes paths of peace and international law, not drifts toward more war. As the C7 has several times stated, the G7 can be part of the problem, if it unilaterally promotes the interests of the most developed economies, or part of the solution, if it defends human rights and the common interests of humanity and the planet.
The dramatic flagrant and unpunished violations of International Humanitarian Law lead to massive suffering of civilians. The G7 and other States should avoid such a silent complicity that enables the continued devastation of wars. They should instead respect and ensure respect for IHL and its principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, condemning all violations of IHL by any actor in every conflict and war. We see a disturbing contradiction between the governments’ calls on peace and ceasefires and the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to parties in conflicts.
We therefore reaffirm the need to strengthen and use the UN system of rules, asking the governments to adhere and engage all partners and allies in the international Treaties to prevent war and on disarmament, in respecting the UN Resolutions and to protect the UN institutions, including the particular case of UNRWA.
The fragility of global peace, the persistence of armed conflicts and the increased risk of nuclear weapons use requires the utmost urgency and concrete actions, that we don’t see yet. A stronger political commitment is needed to implement sustainable solutions to tackle critical structural and systemic challenges. We call for shifting the financial resources from military to diplomacy, human security and social expenditure to foster dialogue and fight the systemic causes of inequalities, poverty and vulnerabilities.
A stronger multilateral system, a shared commitment to protect human rights, a fair financial and economic systems are the preconditions for sustainable peace. Therefore, the C7 calls for the G7 countries to urgently take their responsibilities in this perspective for a more peaceful, just and secure future.
Civil7 Press Release
Original post available here
Contact: Dario Lo Scalzo, e-mail: communications@civil7.org mobile: + 349 38 95 415