The event took place in Geneva on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment of the 61stSession of the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. It was attended by over 120 participants, including a significant number of ambassadors, senior diplomats, and representatives from international organizations and civil society. The event forms part of ongoing diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening political commitment to international humanitarian law amid 130 ongoing armed conflicts.
The initiative underscored both the urgent need and the legal obligation to protect places of worship in armed conflict. Persistent violations of international humanitarian law continue to cause grave humanitarian, cultural and spiritual harm when these sites are damaged, destroyed or militarized. By examining the legal frameworks that safeguard religious sites and identifying ways to strengthen their protection, the event reflected ongoing efforts under the Global IHL Initiative.
Moderated by Dr. Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer of the ICRC, the event opened with high-level remarks.
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel Pacho, Holy See’s Undersecretary for the Multilateral Sector, Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State, affirmed that the protection of places of worship during armed conflict is both a binding obligation under international humanitarian law and a profound moral duty, since such attacks wound the spiritual identity and dignity of affected communities. In announcing the Holy See’s adherence to the ICRC’s Global Initiative, he emphasized the fundamental role of religious leaders in ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law.
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H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, praised the Global Initiative, co-founded by his country, as an inclusive, practical platform for dialogue and cooperation in protecting places of worship, highlighting the practical dimension of prevention actively implemented at the national level in Kazakhstan, including through training peacekeepers and promoting interfaith dialogue.
During the panel discussion:
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H.E. Ambassador Akram Sa’ud Harahsheh, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations Office in Geneva, focused on preventive efforts by political leaders to protect places of worship. In this regard, recalling that his country is also a co-founder of the Global Initiative, he announced that Jordan will be hosting the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War at the end of 2026.
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Ms. Angela Cotroneo, ICRC Head of Protection and CTA Division, shared some perspectives from the ICRC’s work in the field, focusing on the immediate and long-term humanitarian consequences of attacks against places of worship. She stressed that religious sites are not only affected by collateral damage and indiscriminate attacks, but in some instances deliberately targeted, with no region and no faith spared. She outlined the ICRC efforts and challenges, and reiterated that protecting and respecting religious sites in armed conflict is not only an obligation under IHL, but also a humanitarian imperative.
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Ms. Ana Luiza Massot Thompson-Flores, Director of the UNESCO Liaison office in Geneva, emphasized the central role of UNESCO in promoting and strengthening the legal protection of cultural property and religious sites through various international frameworks and initiatives.
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Ms. Anja Tang, Member of the Council of Experts of the Article 18 Alliance, outlined how attacks against places of worship negatively impair the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief since religious sites are not only liturgical spaces, but they often function simultaneously as visible sources of mental and spiritual support — especially during armed conflict. Highlighting the recurrent violations of this right, she also described the crucial role of religious leaders in preventing such attacks.
The event closed with remarks from ICRC Vice-President Mr. Gilles Carbonnier, who emphasized that protecting places of worship in armed conflict sits at the intersection of law, humanity and peace, and is a vital element of the broader effort to safeguard civilians and uphold human dignity.
