Embassy of Switzerland: War from the Victims’ Perspective

Jean Mohr

To celebrate 75 years of Irish-Swiss diplomatic relations and the 150th anniversary of the First Geneva Convention, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland is organising a series of events on Humanitarian Action to take place in the inspiring setting of the exhibition ‘War from the Victims’ Perspective - Photographs by Jean Mohr’, at the Gallery of Photography Ireland.

Ireland and Switzerland share a common humanitarian tradition through their commitment to the respect for international humanitarian law and to the provision of aid to victims of armed conflicts. The Embassy of Switzerland has thus chosen to celebrate this double-anniversary with a particular focus on the topic of humanitarian action.

Shown in Ireland for the first time, Swiss photographer Jean Mohr’s (b.1925) classic black-and-white photographs uphold the highest standards of humanist photography: they are compassion- ate, concerned, sensitive and respectful of the subject’s dignity. This major exhibition features sixty of Mohr’s images and address- es the issues of victims of conflicts, refugees and communities suffering from war and those still under threat. It focusses on emblematic cases from around the world illustrating the universal problems of populations directly or indirectly enduring the repercussions of war.

Series of Panel Discussions on Humanitarian Action

The Embassy presented four panel discussions related to the issues that lie at the heart of the exhibition, ranging from international humanitarian law and humanitarian assistance to the ethics of war photography. The panel discussions, were held from 20 – 23 May at the Gallery of Photography Ireland, and featured Irish and Swiss experts from government, civil society, academia, arts and media. The first event, was followed by a reception to mark the opening of the exhibition.

These initiatives are organised in close collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mission to the UK and Ireland, the Irish Red Cross, the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) and other local partners from academic institutions and civil society.

Panel discussion series:
Tuesday, 20 May 2014: Compliance with International Humanitarian Law. Speakers: James Kingston (Legal Advisor, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DFAT), Nicolas Long (Ambassador-at-Large for the Application of International Humanitarian Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA), Shane Darcy (Lecturer, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway), Daithí Ó Ceallaigh (Director of Corporate Affairs, Institute of International and Euopean Affairs IIEA).

Wednesday, 21 May 2014: Challenges of Humanitarian Assistance. Speakers: John Roche (Head of International Department, Irish Red Cross), Declan Power (Security Analyst and Civil Military Specialist, Member of Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps), Dominic Crowley (Emergency Director, Concern Worldwide), Dug Cubie (Lecturer in Law, University College Cork UCC).

Thursday, 22 May 2014: Current Challenges of International Humanitarian Law. Speakers: Paul Castella (Head of Mission to the UK and Ireland, International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC), Lt. Col. Jerry Lane (Legal Adviser, Irish Defence Forces), Damaris Carnal (Head of IHL Section, Directorate for International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA), Colin Smith (Lecturer in IHL, Trinity College Dublin TCD).

Friday, 23 May 2014: Ethics of War Photography. Speakers: Liam Kennedy (Professor and Director of the Clinton Institute for American Studies, University College Dublin UCD), Kim Haughton (Photographer), Joe Breen (Journalist and Lecturer at Dunlin City University DCU).

The exhibition is produced by the Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland and the Swiss Federal Depart- ment of Foreign Affairs. It is hosted in Dublin by the Gallery of Photography Ireland.

 

Exhibition dates

May 20th -26th 2014


Gallery information

Opening hours

Open 6 days:

Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm

Open Mondays by appointment for ongoing education, artists archiving and training.

Closed Sundays

Closed for bank holidays and public holidays


Admission is free 


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Meeting House Square,

Temple Bar,

Dublin D02 X406, Ireland

 

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