The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission is a young institution established only in 1991, despite the fact that Protocol I was adopted in 1977.
The Geneva Conventions of 1949 as supplemented by the additional Protocols of 1977 set out principles and rules, binding on the parties to armed conflicts, designed to protect the victims of those conflicts.
The broad purpose of the Commission is to protect the victims of armed conflict by obtaining the observation of the principles and rules of international law applicable in armed conflict.
In conformity with Article 90 of Protocol I, the depositary - Switzerland - convenes at intervals of five years a meeting of representatives of the High Contracting Parties for the purpose of electing the Members of the Commission.
(as adopted by the Commission on 8 July 1992 in Bern and amended on 11 March 2003, 13 February 2009, 11 February 2011 and 26 March 2014 in Geneva)
The legal basis of the Commission is Art. 90 of the First Additional Protocol of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The Swiss Government provides the Commission, pursuing to Article 90, Paragraph 1, Sub-Paragraph f of the First Additional Protocol, with the necessary administrative facilities for the performance of its functions.
