Peter Maurer Quotes

Not enough countries, not enough armies, not enough armed groups are abiding by the fundamental human values enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.

It is important to recognize the differences between the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. The treatment of those detained at Abu Ghraib is governed by the Geneva Conventions, which have been signed by both the U.S. and Iraq.

Al Qaeda doesn't abide by the Geneva Conventions, so in my opinion, they should not be afforded the protections of them.

I can tell you categorically that any mal-treatment of any detainees by U.S. forces or coalition forces is totally unacceptable - that our orders have and will continue to be that we will treat everyone in our charge with - humanely and with respect.

In light of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, critics are arguing that abuses of Iraqi prisoners are being produced by a climate of disregard for the laws of war.

The concept of war crimes is an American invention.

What is the Geneva Convention on wars! I have never read it.

Ensuring the respect of international humanitarian law and principles is one of the key areas necessary to establish accountability chains.

We have to work together in order to prove that genocidal campaigns will fail and lead to accountability of the perpetrators and bring justice for survivors.

Human-rights advocates, for example, claim that the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is of a piece with President Bush's 2002 decision to deny al Qaeda and Taliban fighters the legal status of prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions.

The world must know that America holds to the highest standards of military conduct and human rights protections. Anything less is unacceptable.

President Bush and his commanders announced early in the conflict that the Conventions applied.

I believe the only time when we can call for intervention is when there is an ongoing genocide.

If we say the Geneva Convention is obsolete, then what do others who have our soldiers say?

Prisoners, according to the law, who are non-U.S. citizens and are detained outside the U.S. - including in Guantanamo Bay - are denied 'habeas corpus.' They are also denied the right to claim the Geneva Conventions confer certain rights on them.

It's never acceptable to target civilians. It violates the Geneva Accords, it violates the international law of war and it violates all principles of morality.

Justice for crimes against humanity must have no limitations.

You should declare the Taliban and Al Qaeda outside the coverage of the Geneva Conventions. That would keep American officials from being exposed to the federal War Crimes Act.

That a pressing need exists for an International Criminal Court is an unhappy reflection on the tragic realities of the world today.

Self defense is the most difficult element of International Law.

The main problem with applying the Geneva Convention to detainees is that it would interfere with effective interrogation.

The laws of war do not apply only to the suspected criminals of vanquished nations. There is no moral or legal basis for immunizing victorious nations from scrutiny. The laws of war are not a one-way street.

The Syrian people deserve much more than complicit silence, or timid criticism from those who have failed to refer the regime to the International Criminal Court despite acknowledgement if its crimes.

There were 40,000—45,000 people killed. They were no less important than I am. I want to bring Habre to justice. I can name names and clear up many things. I am ready to face justice as well for what I have done …. During the night, prisoners were executed discretely …. I knew that everyone I arrested would be tortured.

We tend to think of World War II and all the atrocities that happened, and people say, 'Never again.' But these things are still happening. The Amnesty International files are big.