40th Round Table on Current Issues of International Humanitarian Law – The Additional Protocols 40 Years Later: New Conflicts, New Actors, New Perspectives [09/09/2017]
Sanremo, 7-9 September 2017
To draw attention to the capacity of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) in implementing and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, Réka Varga, Member of the IHFFC, spoke at the “40th Round Table on Current Issues of International Humanitarian Law – The Additional Protocols 40 Years Later: New Conflicts, New Actors, New Perspectives”. Her presentation was positively received and generated interest from the participants.
Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza, Vice President of the IHFFC, was also present and took the floor to provide additional information on the Commission’s mandate and work.
The round table was attended by nearly 200 military experts and representatives from numerous governments and international NGOs.
· 08 September 2017
17th Annual Regional Seminar on International Humanitarian Law [08/09/2017]
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. [...]
· 07 September 2017
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission was not targeted, concludes Independent Forensic Investigation into tragic incident of 23 April 2017 [07/09/2017]
VIENNA, 7 September 2017 – The Independent Forensic Investigation (IFI) team today presented its report to the Permanent Council of the OSCE on the tragic incident of 23 April 2017, when an OSCE armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion resulting in the death of an OSCE paramedic. The IFI team was assembled and deployed by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission at the request of the OSCE. [...]
· 28 June 2017
International Peace Institute's Workshop [28/06/2017]
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. [...]
· 22 June 2017
Expert Seminar on Realizing the Potential of Civilian-led Monitoring of Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights [22/06/2017]
Geneva, 22 June 2017
Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza, Vice President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission , was invited to provide a speech on the work of the Commission during the expert seminar, “Realizing the Potential of Civilian-led Monitoring of Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights”.
The seminar was organized by two NGOs, the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights and the Minority Rights Group International. It was attended by representatives from various stakeholder organizations involved in documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Syria and Yemen.
· 15 June 2017
Fourth Meeting of Representatives of Commonwealth National Committees on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) [15/06/2017]
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. [...]
· 19 May 2017
International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to lead an independent forensic investigation in Eastern Ukraine (Luhansk province) [19/05/2017]
Bern/19.05.17 – The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) was asked by the OSCE to lead an independent forensic investigation in relation to the incident of 23 April 2017 that occurred in Pryshyb (Luhansk Province) and caused the death of a paramedic and the injury of two monitors of its Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM).
On 18 May 2017 the Secretary General of the OSCE Lamberto Zannier and the President of the IHFFC Thilo Marauhn signed a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations, followed by a distinct agreement relating to the incident. Based on the terms of reference agreed therein, the purpose of the independent forensic investigation is to establish the facts of the incident by conducting a post-blast scene forensic and technical assessment against the background of international humanitarian law. While the investigation will be guided by the applicable rules of international humanitarian law, criminal responsibility and accountability for the explosion is outside its scope.
Ambassador Alfredo Labbé (Chile), Vice-President of the IHFFC, will lead the investigation team. The other members of the team will be proposed by the IHFFC and selected by the team leader in consultation with the OSCE Secretary General.
The team will conduct its investigation confidentially and will report to the OSCE Secretary General only.
· 11 May 2017
International Conference on “Victims of Armed Conflicts at the Juncture of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law” [11/05/2017]
Budapest, 11 May 2017
In order to highlight the critical role of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) in international humanitarian law, Thilo Marauhn, President of the IHFFC, gave a presentation on the work of the Commission during the international conference on “Victims of armed conflicts at the juncture of international humanitarian law and human rights law”.
The conference was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Distinguished representatives and experts from various universities and governments attended the conference.
· 28 April 2017
International Humanitarian Law in Asia: Regional Conference on Generating Respect for the Law [28/04/2017]
Singapore, 27-28 April 2017
In order to underscore the important contribution of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) to implementing and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law in armed conflict situations, Shuichi Furuya, Member of the IHFFC, gave a speech at the conference, “International Humanitarian Law in Asia: Regional Conference on Generating Respect for the Law”. He was invited by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The conference, which was hosted by the ICRC and the S. Rajaratinam School of International Studies, was attended by distinguished diplomats, military legal experts, and members of stakeholder organizations.
· 22 February 2017
Annual Meeting of the Commission [22/02/2017]
The International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC) held its annual meeting from 20 to 22 February in Geneva.This was the first meeting of the IHFFC members since their election, held last December, by the 76 States parties to the First Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions that have recognised the Commission's competence.
During this annual meeting, the members have elected the bureau of the Commision, composed of Prof. Thilo Marauhn (Germany), President; Dr. Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza (Poland), 1st Vice-President; Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Al Kamali (United Arab Emirates), Vice-President; Dr. Robin McNeill Love (United Kingdom), Vice-President and Ambassador Alfredo Labbé (Chile), Vice-President.
3003 Bern