The destruction of the unity and integrity of the family, the natural and fundamental group unit of society, according to Article 16 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, is one of the more tragic consequences of armed conflict. Likewise, in time of peace, the threat to family unity and integrity is one of the potent and inhuman forms of pressure exercised upon individual men and women by Governments in order to secure the regimentation of their peoples. It is salutary to recall, in this context, that one of the purposes of the Law of Nations is to give effect, through appropriate limitations and international supervision of the internal sovereignty of States, to the principle that the protection of human personality and of fundamental rights is the ultimate purpose of all Law, national and international.

After a number of consultations and preparatory meetings, the Diplomatic Conference on humanitarian law, convoked by the Swiss Federal Council and presided over by Mr. Pierre Graber, Federal Councillor, will soon hold its fourth session in Geneva. Its purpose is, with assistance from ICRC experts, to complete consideration of two draft protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; one of these deals with international armed conflicts, the other with noninternational armed conflicts. An ad hoc committee will examine proposals for the regulation of the use of certain so-called conventional weapons.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, on 16 December, sent the governments of States parties to the Geneva Conventions a memorandum on the implementation and the dissemination of knowledge of the Geneva Conventions. We quote that memorandum below:

The Twentieth International Conference of the Red Cross at Vienna in October 1965, in its Resolution No. XXI entitled “Implementation and Dissemination of the Geneva Conventions” expressed the wish that Governments and National Societies submit periodic reports to the ICRC on the steps taken by them in this sphere. On the basis of information received pursuant to that resolution, the ICRC submitted to the International Conferences of the Red Cross at Istanbul and Teheran a report on the implementation of and the dissemination of knowledge of the Geneva Conventions.

In view of the situation in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Alexandre Hay, sent the following appeal on 14 January 1977 to leaders of the various parties to the conflict. The same text was also sent by the ICRC President to the British authorities and to the Heads of State of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Miss L. Simonius, ICRC delegate, visited Athens from 24 to 29 November and Nicosia from 6 to 13 December.