Keynote at the Third Wolfsberg Humanitarian Forum

"Conflicts occurring in Africa are now predominantly internal rebellions, which involve, on the one hand, Government armed forces, and on the other hand, a group or groups of armed citizens of the same country. This has given rise to the phenomenon of parties in conflict who are not accountable to any political authority, whether local or global, and who cannot be effectively circumscribed by existing rules of warfare. The worst atrocities continue to be inflicted on innocent civilians, particularly on women and children, and existing mechanisms cannot guarantee effective prevention or protection from such brutalities." - Dr. Salim, May 25, 1999