Mirjana Spoljaric, head of the Red Cross, warns that world leaders increasingly ignore the rules of war and that conflicts are spiraling out of control. In this interview with Lulu Garcia Navarro, she draws on visits to Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar, Iran, Sudan and Mali to explain why armed conflicts now number 130, the highest since World War II. She describes the dehumanizing effects of torture and prolonged detention, the double standards in how humanitarian needs are measured, and why negotiations have become so hard after years of war. As the first woman to lead the ICRC, she argues that neutrality, political will and renewed commitment to the Geneva Conventions remain humanity's best defense against a wider global conflict. The ICRC now counts 130 international and non-international armed conflicts, the highest number since the Second World War.