Manila (ICRC) - Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), emphasised the critical role of international humanitarian law (IHL) in alleviating suffering and preserving pathways back to peace during her first official visit to the Philippines from 19 to 21 August 2025.
President Spoljaric travelled to the epicentre of the 2017 Marawi conflict, where she heard from people still grappling with the lasting consequences of the fighting. She also visited a transitory shelter and the Maqbara cemetery, where unidentified human remains are buried. More than 300 families are still searching for loved ones who went missing during the conflict, while thousands of people are still displaced from their homes.
The effects of armed conflict can be felt for years, if not decades, after hostilities cease. IHL obligations extend beyond active armed conflict, as seen in the Marawi conflict.
President Spoljaric in the Most Affected Area in Marawi
"It is possible and essential to bring the cases of the missing to a closure. The ICRC will continue to work with the authorities and families to clarify the fate of missing people. Helping them find answers is vital for healing and recovery," President Spoljaric said.
