The all-Ukrainian campaign ‘Books on International Humanitarian Law for Ukrainian Libraries’, initiated by the Ukrainian Red Cross, has been launched in Kyiv. On 12 May, 150 libraries from different regions of the country received sets of literature on international humanitarian law (IHL) to promote knowledge of this branch of law among a wide audience.
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The Yaroslav the Wise National Library of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine joined the initiative. The libraries received kits containing eight books and two information booklets on the basic principles of IHL, the history of its development, the protection of civilians in war, and the symbols of the Red Cross.
Mykola Polishchuk, President of the Ukrainian Red Cross, stressed that the donated literature is a unique source of knowledge that allows Ukrainians to better understand the rules of law in force during armed conflicts. Director General of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine Oleh Serbin added that such knowledge is a tool necessary for a responsible civic response to the challenges of today.
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Volodymyr Pylypenko, Advisor to the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, stressed that in the context of the war in Ukraine, the issue of legal protection, particularly in the field of culture, is critically important. That is why the dissemination of knowledge on international humanitarian law should become part of the public dialogue.
The campaign is being implemented in two stages. The first stage started with a solemn presentation of the books in Kyiv. In the second stage, additional copies will be transferred to the exchange and reserve fund of the National Library for further distribution to other libraries in the country.
The event also featured expert presentations. Participants learned about the work of libraries in times of war, protection of cultural heritage, and the activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They also learned about the role of the Ukrainian Red Cross in humanitarian support to the population.
This initiative will help to expand access to knowledge of international humanitarian law, create legal awareness and support libraries as centres of education in times of war.
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