The law of war — international humanitarian law — has a place of its own and its own special characteristics in the general scheme for the repression of offences. International law is, in a sense, on the fringe of the provisions made by States in their domestic law for the repression of unlawful acts. It has its own system of repression, which imposes sanctions for breaches of international law committed by States, international organizations or individuals.

In 1974, the University of Leiden (Netherlands) established a Chair of International Humanitarian Law, whose first incumbent was Professor Frits Kalshoven, a familiar name to readers of the Review. Mr. George Aldrich, who led the United States delegation at the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts from 1974 to 1977, and who since 1981 has been a Judge at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, was recently appointed as his successor.

During an official ceremony held at the University of Leiden on 13 November 1990, the new holder of the “Red Cross Chair”, as it is sometimes called, made a pressing appeal in his inaugural lecture for compliance with international humanitarian law. In his talk Professor Aldrich described with a large measure of realism the obstacles to implementation of the law but showed cautious optimism in reviewing the means available to the international community to surmount those obstacles.

The Review is pleased to publish, with the author's agreement, the text of his lecture which brings to a close, on a note of appeal and hope, this series of articles devoted to implementation of international humanitarian law.

The World Campaign for the Protection of Victims of War reached its peak on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, 8 May 1991. This was the day when members of the Movement were invited to form a “chain of light” around the world as a reminder that the role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is to “light the darkness” for all victims of war.

That is the slogan of this year's World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, which is being celebrated throughout the world today, 8 May, the anniversary of the birth of our Movement's founder, Henry Dunant. Today also marks the culminating point of the World Campaign for the Protection of Victims of War.

At the meeting of its Assembly, on 2 May 1991, the International Committee of the Red Cross decided to set up a single executive body. The decision was prompted by the need to keep pace with the growing complexity of the ICRC's humanitarian work worldwide and to respond with optimum efficiency to the marked expansion in its activities.

The President of the ICRC, accompanied by Mr. Michel Convers, head of the Operational Support Department, travelled to Luxembourg on 12 March 1991.