(W.E.Talk) How does international humanitarian work draw inspiration from Eastern cultures?
2025-01-15 Ecns.cn Editor：Xue Lingqiao
By Xiao Xin from CNS
Kaushalya Karunasagara is the Networking Advisor at the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka. She has been focusing on multicultural academic research for many years, and promoting International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights law from an Asian cultural perspective. Her latest research, Rules and Traditions During Conflict Situations: contextualizing IHL with Chinese Humanitarian Traditions, was presented at the symposium on “Chinese Humanitarian Traditions and International Humanitarian Concepts” jointly organized by the ICRC, the Red Cross Society of China and the National Emergency Medical Research Center.
The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions and the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Red Cross Society of China. At present, many armed conflicts rage across the globe, putting global humanitarian actions under the spotlight, as humanitarian actors such as the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement continue to provide assistance on the front lines of conflicts, reaffirming the principles of humanity, and urging that "even wars must have limits".
Humanity is the greatest consensus that can unite different civilizations. In the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva, there is an official script warning sign that reads "Do not do unto others as you would not like to be done unto yourself". Meanwhile, In the study of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the comparative study of the traditional Chinese concept of "humanity" is becoming popular. Why does international humanitarian work start to draw inspiration from Eastern cultures? How can the far-reaching Chinese thoughts of "benevolence" and "forgiveness" be applied in international humanitarian actions? Kaushalya Karunasagara, Networking Advisor at the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka shared her insights in an exclusive interview with CNS's "W.E. Talk".
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
CNS: The exploration and comparative study of the concept of humanity in Eastern cultures has gradually emerged in the field of IHL. Why has that trend emerged?
Kaushalya Karunasagara: The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) initiated its engagement with cultural and religious traditions decades ago with the objective of conveying key humanitarian messages in cultural vernacular corresponding to International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Whilst the ICRC's headquarters and origins are in Europe, we acknowledge the importance of other cultural perspectives on humanitarian action, and what the ICRC can learn from Asia ― particularly when it comes to the protection of civilians, detainees and the sick and wounded during times of armed conflict and other situations of violence.
Three decades ago, the ICRC began exploring convergences between Islamic culture and IHL, for the ICRC better to relate to the cultures in which it was working, many of which were Muslim contexts. Since 2017, the ICRC has engaged on Buddhist culture and IHL for much the same purpose, and we have also engaged on Hindu traditions and Christian ethics and IHL, too. This latest project on Chinese traditions is a continuation of this work.
Whilst the convergences between these different traditions and IHL might at first be surprising, we must remember that the roots of IHL lie in various humanitarian traditions from around the world, some of which are thousands of years old.
Having said that, the ICRC does not ignore the divergences between these traditions and IHL, and it is also important to discuss those. All of this is what makes this dialogue so rich, interesting, and meaningful. Thus, we are affirmative that oriental cultural traditions could contribute to enrich this discussion effectively along with other humanitarian traditions around the world to enhance the operational innovation, gain and maintain access by building relationships and bridges to IHL. We hope to learn a lot more from Chinese scholars, humanitarians, and others as this project progresses.
CNS: In your recent research, what ideas in the Chinese cultural traditions are intrinsically compatible with the international concept of the humanity?
Kaushalya Karunasagara: The ICRC is only just embarking upon engagement with Chinese Traditions, but already it is clear that the principle of benevolence is a pillar of Chinese traditions of humanity. In another words, Benevolence is the act of kindness where we empathetically dispose to act with human heartedness.
If we explore further, we can see that there are two common rules related to all traditions to preserve Humanity. Even someone is not attached to a particular religion or follow any philosophy, these two rules could be observed considering ourselves as examples. We call them as "golden rule" and "silver rule".
"Golden rule" simply says treat others in the way you like to be treated by others. For an example, if you like equal and fair treatment, you may treat others in the same way. In "silver rule", it says do not treat others in the way you do not like to be treated. Putting it into an example, if you do not like to be tortured, do not do the same to another. When we pay attention to Chinese traditions, we can clearly see that these two rules are included in there as well which represent the essence of benevolence.
For an example, all of Confucius's moral teachings are also bound to serve humanity. Benevolence is one of them which is the foundational virtue that promotes a flourishing human community. It parallels with previously discussed golden rule and silver rule which are grounds of human dignity.
Also, there is a Chinese concept of the "Junzi", who is enriched with moral qualities to act and speak appropriately in any situation. In English translation, "Junzi" is a noble person or an exemplary person who is capable of acting virtuously regardless of any difficult circumstance. Hence, these virtues could be a model for parties to armed conflicts to limit the effects of war and other violence, for humanitarian reasons.
CNS：In China and many Asian countries, such ideas as the Confucian benevolence and forgiveness thought have far reaching influence. Are these ideas and traditions also be presented in the Geneva Conventions? Are they being applied in international humanitarian actions?
Kaushalya Karunasagara: The Geneva Conventions of 1949 were the result of deliberations between the world's States, and therefore draw on a broad spectrum of traditions of humanity. Of course, China was one of the first States to sign the Geneva Conventions.
But, centuries before the Geneva Conventions, Chinese traditions already prioritized humanity in war, with rules to protect civilians and civilian property, and emphasis on the importance of treating the sick and wounded, principles which now form the core of IHL, upon which the ICRC's mandate is based.
For an example, the teachings of Sun Zi in Art of War are famous around the world specially among military and political leaders. Interestingly, as a book related to military strategies, Art of War says, "the captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept". This corresponds with the Third Geneva Convention on "Treatment of Prisoners of War". It says that prisoners of war must be treated humanely in all circumstances. They must be allowed communication with their families as well. Also, Sun Zi says, after taking the power of enemy countries, combatants should not destroy that country. This closely reflects the obligation in IHL to protect specific objects and cultural property.
At a moment in which we see IHL under intense pressure in various hotspots around the globe, Chinese traditions make clear – just like IHL – that even wars must have limits.
CNS: What is the practical significance of international humanitarian work drawing inspiration from Eastern cultures?
Kaushalya Karunasagara: The ICRC strives constantly to reinforce respect for, and compliance with, IHL, and it is the obligation of all States to promote IHL. When armed conflict does occur, compliance with IHL can also make the path to peace incrementally easier.
The ICRC's engagement on cultural traditions aims to act as a reminder of the strictly humanitarian objectives of IHL, through emphasizing its roots in these various traditions.
In our experience, religions philosophical and culture traditions play a big role in shaping anyone's values, ethics, and beliefs whether directly or indirectly. When we explore together those traditional ideologies, and their convergences with IHL, people can more easily begin to see IHL as a reflection of their own value systems as well.
The point is, we can guide them gradually to understand that IHL is not an "alien set of rules", but a part of our cultural and traditional values since a long time.
