Our demands

As Switzerland adopted sanctions against Russia over its attack against Ukraine, it should be consistent and also sanction other states and parties to armed conflicts who disregard international law — and particularly international humanitarian law.

It must use all available political and economic means to ensure that, in all armed conflicts:

• Healthcare workers are fully protected and able to fulfill their mission of caring for the wounded and sick — as Henry Dunant had demanded more than one and a half centuries ago.
• Urgent medical supplies, food and fuel can reach the civilian population — and hospitals in particular.
• Civilians, and in particular healthcare workers, are not abducted or held without charge, fair trial, or due process, in violation of international law.
• Where such abductions have happened — as is the case of thousands of civilians, including numerous healthcare workers from the Palestinian territories — the ICRC has access to these people, their rights are respected, and they are released, just like the Israeli hostages.
• War crimes are prosecuted and investigated by independent international bodies such as the International Criminal Court, with full cooperation from Switzerland — including the execution of their arrest warrants.