Ms Melissa Conley Tyler1
1Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D), Australia
Biography:
Melissa Conley Tyler is Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D), a platform for collaboration between Australia’s international policy communities. She previously served as National Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs for 13 years. Melissa is a prolific commentator with expertise in Australian foreign policy, Australia’s key relationships across Asia and the practice of diplomacy.
Abstract:
As wars rage across the world – including in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar – civilians and humanitarian workers are being targeted.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned in June last year that “The world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians in armed conflict.” In the foreword to Australia’s Humanitarian Policy released last October, Minister Pat Conroy said that “We recognise that Australia’s humanitarian action is a whole-of-country endeavour”.
Building on this whole-of-nation mandate, this paper will report on three months of consultations with leading humanitarian experts from Australia and the region on what more Australia can do to address the declining effectiveness of enforcement of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.
It will look at the most pressing challenges to international humanitarian law and protection of civilians, Australia’s strengths and where is it best placed to contribute. It will then outline practical steps Australia can take to promote international humanitarian law and protection of civilians in the region and globally.