People on war, countries affected by war - 1999

For the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and as part of its policy for better protection of victims of armed conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducted an international survey "People on War" between 1998 and 1999 in 12 countries recently affected by armed conflict. The idea was to "give a voice" to civilian populations and combatants in countries that have endured the modern forms of war. In addition, the consultation included national opinion surveys in four of the five permanent member countries of the UN Security Council - France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States - as well as Switzerland the depositary country of the Geneva Conventions, to see how the publics in these countries view war.

In 2009, a similar survey entitled "Our World. Views from the Field" was undertaken in 8 countries that were experiencing or had experienced armed conflict or other situations of armed violence. The aims were to develop a better understanding of people’s needs and expectations, to gather views and opinions, and to give a voice to those who had been adversely affected by armed conflict and violence.

The initial survey "People on War" was repeated in 2016 in 11 countries affected by armed conflict, as well as to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Switzerland. A number of the same questions were also asked in the last People on War survey enabling some comparisons over time to be made.