As armed conflicts around the world become increasingly devastating for civilians, a group of countries is pushing a clear message back onto the global agenda: even war must have rules, DKNews.kz reports.
Today, the six founding States of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law announced that a High-Level Conference on Humanity in War will take place in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The initiative is led by Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
A joint appeal from world leaders
His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, together with the leaders of Brazil, China, France, Kazakhstan and South Africa, issued a joint invitation to heads of state worldwide to come together at what they describe as a pivotal moment.
In their appeal, the leaders stressed that the rules of war are fundamental to preserving shared humanity during armed conflict and must be upheld universally, impartially and consistently.
The message is clear: respect for international humanitarian law is not optional, even in the most complex and modern forms of warfare.
Why this initiative matters now
According to the initiative’s founders, today’s wars are marked by unprecedented levels of brutality, civilian suffering and destruction of critical infrastructure. These realities have made the need to reinforce international humanitarian norms more urgent than ever.
Driven by a deep sense of responsibility and the need to end unconscionable human suffering, the six countries, together with the ICRC, officially launched the Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative in September 2024.
Its goal is not only to reaffirm existing legal norms, but also to ensure they remain effective amid rapid changes in how wars are fought.
Growing global support
The initiative has already gained significant international backing. To date, 99 states from all regions of the world have formally joined the Global IHL Initiative.
In addition, 27 countries are co-leading seven thematic workstreams, developing practical recommendations to:
- strengthen respect for international humanitarian law
- address new challenges posed by evolving methods of warfare
- better protect civilians and prevent atrocities
Rather than focusing solely on declarations, the initiative emphasizes concrete, actionable steps.
Kazakhstan’s role
Kazakhstan’s participation as one of the founding states highlights the country’s consistent commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and humanitarian principles in international affairs.
Over the years, Kazakhstan has positioned itself as a supporter of global stability and peaceful cooperation, and its involvement in this initiative aligns with that broader foreign policy approach.
A call for collective responsibility
The founders of the initiative are calling on all states to join the effort, underlining that preventing atrocities and protecting humanity during war is a shared global responsibility.
The 2026 conference in Jordan is expected to become a key platform for reaffirming this commitment and translating political will into coordinated international action.
In a world where the human cost of war continues to rise, the initiative sends a powerful reminder: safeguarding humanity must remain at the heart of global decision-making, even in times of conflict.
