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