 If we rewind 70 years to 1949, the atrocities of war loom large in recent memory. More than 50 million were dead in the wake of World War II. Everyday people, like you and me, found themselves without adequate legal protections. And so we, as a world, vowed we must do better. A diplomatic conference again brings together in Geneva practically all the states of the world. Its effect will be to alleviate human suffering, to bring aid to all military and civilian persons incapacitated by wounds, sickness, captivity or loss of their freedom. Strong limits were set on the brutalities of war through the Geneva Conventions to protect persons who aren't in combat. In the years that followed, this system of protective yet realistic rules enabled the Geneva Conventions to make their way from the halls of lawmakers to the battlefield, where they mattered most. A powerful message rang in the air. People, no matter where they stand or what they support, must be treated with humanity. And states now had the responsibility to make sure grave breaches committed during armed conflict will not go unpunished, regardless of where they take place. Today we see the profound impact the Geneva Conventions continue to have around the globe. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, military officials pledged to stop rape and other forms of sexual violence amidst a civil war. We encourage you, in this sensitive policy, to fight sexual violence. Because it leads to many women's lives. I'm telling you, it's not just about many women's lives, but many families' lives. The stigma and destruction of dignity caused by sexual violence can upend the dynamics of communities. In Syria last year, more than two million people were in need of access to essentials like food and medicine. And yet despite the clear need for rapid and unimpeded access, only a handful of convoys were able to provide assistance. I've been in touch with you for a long time. I've been in touch with you for a long time. At the beginning of the meeting, it was very difficult. Without humanitarian assistance provided for in the conventions, the losses and trauma could have been even more catastrophic. The Geneva Conventions created a system of prevented measures to ensure that breaches of conduct would not occur, with an obligation for states to train their armed forces on the laws applicable during warfare. Today, violations of the laws of war continue to be of concern to the ICRC. Well, states have asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to be the guardians of the laws of war, so we don't own the law. But it's our job to make sure that it's applied, that it's understood, as much as possible it's respected, and we're necessary that it's updated. Every time a healthcare worker crosses a checkpoint or essentials like food and water are provided to families in besieged cities, it's made possible by the Geneva Conventions, because even wars have limits.