Organization of American States adopts Resolution referring to IHFFC [05/06/2018]
Washington, D.C., 5 June 2018
During the 48th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), Member States adopted Resolution AG/RES.2926 (XLVIII-O/18) entitled: “International Law” related, among other issues to the “Promotion and respect for international humanitarian law”. The resolution includes paragraphs that invite Member States to consider accepting the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC).
The draft resolution was co-sponsored by Mexico and Argentina.
· 24 May 2018
Expert Seminar on “Protecting Education during Insecurity and Armed Conflict through International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law” [24/05/2018]
Geneva, 24 May 2018
Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza, Vice President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), attended the meeting on “Protecting Education during Insecurity and Armed Conflict through International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law” that was organized by the Education Above All Foundation (“EAA”) and The Hague Institute for Global Justice (“HIGJ”). A large number of distinguished international stakeholder organisations were present.
This seminar was part of the joint project by EAA and HIGJ on “Law, Education and the Sustainable Development Goals”, which is a developing strategy on how to improve accountability for attacks on education.
Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza took this opportunity to emphasize the IHFFC’s value as an entity to enhance respect of international humanitarian law. Her address on the IHFFC generated discussions and interests among those present.
· 19 May 2018
International Society for Military Law and the Law of War, 21st Congress [19/05/2018]
Lisbon, 15-19 May 2018
For purposes of underscoring the significance of the mandate of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), Justinas Žilinskas, Member of the IHFFC, attended the 21st Congress of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War held on 15-19 May 2018 in Lisbon. He gave a presentation on the IHFFC during a panel titled “Protection of civilians in peace operations”.
In addition to the panel, Justinas Žilinskas continued discussions on the IHFFC throughout the Congress.
· 13 April 2018
Palestine has become the 77th State Party to the IHFFC [13/04/2018]
The IHFFC is very pleased to announce that Palestine has recently become the 77th State to recognize its competence, in accordance with article 90 of the Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
· 02 March 2018
Communication Policy of the Commission [02/03/2018]
Communication Policy of the International Fact Finding Commission
· 22 February 2018
Annual Meeting 2018 [22/02/2018]
The International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC) held its annual meeting from 19 to 21 February 2018 in Geneva.
During this meeting, the Commission discussed, inter alia, its strategy and programme of work for the upcoming year, and it adopted its communication policy.
The Commission also carried out a lessons-learned exercise on its first mandate in Easter Ukraine in 2017 (independent forensic investigation in relation to an incident that affected the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission).
The Commission organized a well-attended briefing on this first mission for representatives of States and civil society. This event attracted great interest.
The next annual meeting will be held from 1 to 3 April 2019 in Geneva.
· 15 December 2017
Meeting with Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC [15/12/2017]
On 23 November 2017, the President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), Thilo Marauhn, met with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva.
They had an interesting exchange of views on the mandate recently given to the Commission by the OSCE in relation to an incident that affected its Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. They also had a fruitful discussion on the role of the IHFFC in the implementation of international humanitarian law and on the support that the ICRC can provide to the Commission. The IHFFC is grateful for this support.
Former IHFFC Vice President appointed as a member of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen established by the Human Rights Council [15/12/2017]
On 4 December 2017, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein announced the appointment of the members of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen established by the Human Rights Council. The members are Kamel Jendoubi (Tunisia), who will serve as chairperson, Melissa Parke (Australia) and Charles Garraway (United Kingdom). The latter was an esteemed member of the IHFFC and until recently one of its Vice Presidents. The Commission wishes him all the best in his new position.
· 05 December 2017
16th Session of the Assembly of the State Parties of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court [05/12/2017]
New York, 4-9 December 2017
In order to raise awareness of the potential of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), Justinas Žilinskas, Member of the IHFFC, attended the 16th Session of the Assembly of the State Parties of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. He participated in the General Debate and a number of side events.
· 27 October 2017
72nd Session of the UN General Assembly [27/10/2017]
New York, 23-27 October 2017
Réka Varga, Member of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), attended the meetings of the 6th (Legal) Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. In order to bring to the fore the relevant mandate of the IHFFC, she provided information on the IHFFC to legal advisers from capitals and Permanent Missions to the UN.
3003 Bern