The Senate and the House of Representatives approved on Monday in a bicameral conference committee meeting a measure codifying International Humanitarian Law (IHL) within the country’s legal system.

Sen. Richard J. Gordon, principal author of Senate Bill 2669, lauded the approval of the bill, stressing that the measure would ensure that those who commit war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity would be penalized.

“Throughout the centuries, millions of children, women and men all over the world have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that shock the collective conscience of humanity. Philippine history is not spared from such atrocities,” he said.

“Such acts are grave crimes that threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world, and yet only a handful of those responsible for those crimes have ever been brought to justice by local courts,” he added.

The bicameral conference committee ironed out the differences between SB 2669 and House Bill 6633. Senators Gordon and Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate panel, and Representatives Lorenzo Tañada III, chairman of the House panel, and Roilo Golez were present during the meeting.

Gordon said the bill defines and penalizes crimes against IHL and other serious international crimes. It also provides that Philippine courts shall take additional measures to protect the safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses.

Richard Desgagne, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional legal adviser for Southeast Asia and East Asia, said the bill is very important for the application and enforcement of the IHL in the Philippines.