Spotlight Falls On Role Of Humanitarian Law
By Lyna Mohamad
October 4, 2026
Credit: Lyna Mohamad - Borneo Bulletin
The Brunei Red Crescent (BRC) pledged its support for Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to upholding, enforcing and respecting International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly in areas affected by armed conflict.
BRC President Lailatul Zubaidah binti Md Hussain made the pledge during Brunei Darussalam’s first public lecture on IHL, describing the event as a milestone for national society and part of wider efforts to promote understanding of the rules governing warfare.
The lecture ‘When War Has Rules: Understanding International Humanitarian Law’ was conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday.
In her remarks, Lailatul Zubaidah highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s reputation for peace and tranquillity, noting that its people have been fortunate to experience prolonged periods of peace and security.
However, she stressed that the reality remains vastly different for millions of people living in conflict-affected areas.
She highlighted the devastating impact of modern conflicts on civilians, saying children could be killed while doing their homework, while patients could lose their lives in hospitals as a result of bombing rather than illness.
Lailatul Zubaidah also expressed concern that such violations were increasingly being viewed as an expected or tolerated consequence of war.
The public lecture brought together students, lecturers and guests for discussions on IHL and its relevance in contemporary armed conflicts.
Presentations were delivered by Head of Operations at the ICRC Bangkok Regional Delegation and representative of BRC Paht Tanattanawin and Regional Legal Advisor at the ICRC Bangkok Regional Delegation Clementine Rendle.
The session concluded with a moderated question-and-answer session, allowing students, lecturers and guests to seek further clarification and gain deeper insights into IHL and the rules governing armed conflict. – Lyna Mohamad
