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On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), visited Waseda University, where she met with  Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka and attended the signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement.
After the signing ceremony, she gave a lecture titled “International Humanitarian Law in a Challenging Security Environment” at the Waseda University International Conference Center. She is the first woman to be elected as President of the ICRC, which celebrated its 160^th anniversary in 2023. This is her  first visit to Asia since assuming the presidency in October 2022.

Since the conclusion of the cooperation agreement in November 2018, Waseda University and the ICRC have cultivated a close partnership through activities such as cohosting various events. Dr. Peter Maurer, the former president of the ICRC, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Waseda University at the time of the conclusion of the cooperation agreement.

In addition, a joint research agreement was concluded between the ICRC and the Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering in April 2021 in order to develop innovative technologies for humanitarian assistance. Joint research projects include developing drones that can detect unexploded landmines by incorporating the university’s strength in AI and robotics research. This is the first time the ICRC is partnering with a university outside of Switzerland to pursue technology development.

Joint research projects include developing drones that can detect unexploded landmines by incorporating the university’s strength in AI and robotics research.

President Tanaka gave opening remarks where he presented the missions of the ICRC, and their commitment to providing humanitarian aid while maintaining the difficult position of neutrality and impartiality. He emphasized the importance of such principles, describing them as embodiments of “intellectual resilience” and “flexible sensitivity,” which are qualities the university aims to nurture in its students.

President Spoljaric addressed the audience of over 350 students gathered at the International Conference Center in an engaging tone, stating that we cannot remain indifferent in the face of conflicts and disregard for international humanitarian law. Students listened intently as she spoke about ICRC’s missions in relation to various international agreements such as the Geneva Convention and the ICRC’s adherence to the principles of neutrality and impartiality, while relating them to her personal experiences in providing humanitarian assistance around the world. The lecture provided a rare and valuable opportunity for students to hear directly from the ICRC president on these important topics.

The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session, where students and moderators asked questions on themes such as the use and role of technology and the application of the principles of impartiality and neutrality as an organization. She responded sincerely to each question.

As the partnership enters the next phase, Waseda and ICRC are in discussion to hold joint research projects with the Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering in fields such as waste disposal and disaster response and recovery. Waseda University and the ICRC are moving toward further collaboration to contribute to world peace.