Interventions in international meetings


2017

 

IHFFC represented at the 17th Annual Regional Seminar on International Humanitarian Law:

The 1977 Additional Protocols: 40 Years After

5 - 8 September 2017, Pretoria

 

 

On 7 September 2017, Dr Robin McNeill Love, Vice-President IHFFC, was honoured to be invited to give a presentation concerning the IHFFC at the 17th Annual Regional Seminar on International Humanitarian Law: "The 1977 Additional Protocols: 40 Years After” in Pretoria. The Seminar took place at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria.

 

The Seminar is an annual event that brings together various experts and government representatives from throughout Southern Africa and beyond to review and advance the present state of ratification and implementation of IHL in those countries.

 

The seminar organisers, the ICRC, wrote in their pre-seminar observation: "As we mark the 40thanniversary of the Additional Protocols, one of the concerns raised is that modern conflicts have evolved faster than the law and as such there are no laws to address the challenges that we see today. In fact, an analysis of the historical context in which the Additional Protocols were drafted, shows that the law was designed to address the very challenges that we see today. And as such, what we need is not new laws, but greater compliance with the law”.

 

In view of the fact that Article 90 of the First Additional Protocol established the basis for the formation of the IHFFC, it was an appropriate time for Dr McNeill Love to reiterate the role, structure, function and mandate of the IHFFC. He was also able to announce that the IHFFC's Ukraine Mission Report was about to be produced and this news was warmly welcomed by the delegates as a potentially exciting new era for the IHFFC's active involvement in its international humanitarian fact-finding role.

 


 

IHFFC represented at the International Peace Institute's Workshop

"Evaluating Mechanisms to Investigate Attacks on Healthcare”

New York, Wednesday, 28 June 2017

 

 

Dr Robin McNeill Love, Vice-President IHFFC, was honoured to be invited to attend a workshop at the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York City on 28 June 2017. The workshop was chaired by Dr Els Debuf, IPI.

 

The workshop programme was based on the evaluation of mechanisms to investigate attacks on healthcare. This initiative is based on the UN Security Resolution SCR 2286 (2016), OP9, where the Security Council "[s]trongly urges States to conduct...independent, full, prompt, impartial and effective investigations of violations of international humanitarian law related to the protection of [medical care in armed conflict], and, where appropriate, take action against those responsible..., with a view to reinforcing preventive measures, ensuring accountability and addressing the grievances of victims.”

 

The workshop consisted of the following sessions:

 

· Session I: The role of fact finding and investigation in implementing Security Council Resolution 2286.

· Session II: Evaluating selected international investigative mechanisms.

· Session III: Moving forward - Lessons learned and best practices.

 

Over twenty delegates from key stakeholder organisations were brought together to consider how their respective organisations can contribute to the implementation of SCR 2286 (2016). Dr McNeill Love contributed from the IHFFC's perspective and reiterated the role that the IHFFC is keen to provide to this vital area of international humanitarian law.

 

On 16 January 2018, at the IPI in New York, Dr Debuf's IPI publication "Evaluating Mechanisms to Investigate Attacks on Healthcare” was launched.

 

Dr McNeill Love, IHFFC, was privileged to be invited by Dr Debuf, IPI, to contribute to this important initiative.

 


 

IHFFC receives welcome recognition and support from the Fourth Meeting of Representatives of Commonwealth National Committees on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Swakopmund, Namibia, 14 - 15 June 2017.

 

Dr Robin McNeill Love, Vice-President IHFFC, was privileged to be invited to represent the IHFFC at the Fourth Meeting of Representatives of Commonwealth National Committees on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which took place in Swakopmund, Namibia from 14 to 15 June 2017.  This event was co-hosted by the Government of Namibia, the Namibia Red Cross Society and the ICRC, with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the British Red Cross.

 

On day 1 of the Meeting, Dr McNeill Love joined a discussion panel concerning ‘Contemporary challenges to IHL’.  He gave a presentation on the creation, competencies, membership and jurisdiction of the IHFFC. Acknowledging the 40th Anniversary of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, the Chair noted that it was apt that the work of the IHFFC was being discussed.

 

Extracts from the Meeting Outcome Document, dated 15 June 2017, states as follows:

 

Representatives of Commonwealth National Committees on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Commonwealth Governments meeting in Swakopmund, Namibia from 14 to 15 June 2017, … hereby agree, where appropriate, to: [in Outcome Statement 6] "Encourage States to recognise the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), and to make use of its services, where applicable;” …

 

Receiving mention in the Outcome Document was clearly a very positive and welcome outcome for the IHFFC.  The IHFFC’s prominence has been raised within Commonwealth States and it is to be hoped that more Commonwealth States will recognise the competence of the IHFFC and indeed consider using the services of the IHFFC in the future.

 


2010


 

28 October 2010

 

Statement of the President of the International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission, Professor Michael Bothe, before the Third Universal Meeting of National Committees on International Humanitarian Law. 

 

Read the Presentation (PDF): Link

 


 

18 October 2010

 

Statement before the 6th Committee of the UN General Assembly, New York, October 18, 2010 presented on behalf of the President of the IHFFC by Leah Campbell, Advisor. 

 

Download the Statement of Prof. Michael Bothe (PDF): Link

 


 

11 June 2010

 

International Criminal Court (ICC) Review Conference in Kampala, Uganda, 31 May to 11 June 2010.

 

Download the summary report (PDF): Link

 


2009


 

16 February 2009

 

Presentation of the IHFFC before the African Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the UN in Geneva.

 

Download the document (PDF): Link

 


2008


 

23 October 2008

 

Statement of the President of the IHFFC at a side-event to the meeting of the 6th Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York.

 

On the occasion of the debate of the 6th Committee of the UN General Assembly on the status of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions the President, Prof. Michael Bothe, and the Vice-President, Prof. Jeannette Irigoin-Barrenne, took the opportunity to present the IHFFC and its recent activities and reflections in a side-event to the discussion of the 6th Committee.

 

Read the statement of Prof. Michael Bothe: Link

 


2007


 

29 - 31 August 2007

 

Second Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent International Humanitarian Law Conference

 

At the 2nd Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on International Humanitarian Law in Wellington New Zealand from 29 to 31 August 2007 over 150 delegates from Commonwealth governments, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, and national IHL committees, cam together to share ideas and experiences on IHL issues.

 

See the slides of the IHFFC presentation by Col. Charles Garraway: Link

 


2006


 

23 - 24 November 2006

 

Fifth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

 

Read the Statement by Professor Ghalib Djilali, President of the Commission at the 5th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, on 23 - 24 November 2006.

 

Download Statement: Link

 


 

18 October 2006

 

Informal Meeting of the 6th Committee of the United Nations General Assembly

 

Read the Statement by Professor Michael Bothe, Vice-President of the Commission at an informal Meeting of the 6th Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, on 18 October 2006 in New York.

 

Download Statement: Link

 


2003


 

2 - 6 December 2003

 

28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva

 

The 28th International Conference brought together the 190 States Parties to the Geneva Conventions, the 179 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and a number of observers to discuss issues of common humanitarian concern relating to the theme of protecting human dignity.

 

Read the intervention in the plenary by Sir Kenneth Keith: Link

 


 

11 - 12 September 2003

 

Improving compliance with International Humanitarian Law (Proceedings of the Bruges Colloquium)

 

Read the speech from Dr. Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza "How can existing IHL mechanisms be better used?": Link

 


 

19 - 21 February 2003

 

International Conference of Governmental and Non-Governmental Experts: The Missing

 

An international conference convened by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) took place in Geneva on action to clarify the fate of people missing as a result of armed conflict and internal violence and to support their families.

 

The conference brought about a heightened awareness of this tragedy and provided a renewed impetus for efforts that need to be made by all those responsible for addressing the problem of the missing and their families. It brought together over 350 governmental and non-governmental experts from more than 90 countries, including representatives of families of the missing.

 

The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission was represented by Dr. Roger Dubouloz.

 


1998


 

15 June - 17 July 1998

 

United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome

 

The Commission was invited to participate as an observer in the Rome Conference. It was represented by Messrs M. R. Dubouloz and E. Kussbach.

 

Read the Intervention by the Commission: Link

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