Munich Security Conference Side Event “Health security: Are we ready or not?” [16/02/2017]
Munich, 16 February 2017
Gisela Perren-Klingler, Member of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), attended the side event, “Health security: Are we ready or not?”, at the Munich Security Conference. She took the floor and presented the work and mission of the IHFFC.
The side event was co-organised by the Bill Gates Foundation, Chatham House and the Munich Security Conference.
· 08 December 2016
Diplomatic Meeting of 8 December 2016, Bern - Election of the 15 members of the IHFFC and amendments of the Financial Procedures [08/12/2016]
At the invitation of Switzerland, the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, the fifth diplomatic meeting was held in Bern on 8 December 2016, during which the members of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission were elected. The 76 States Parties to the first Additional Protocol of 1977 to the Geneva Convention accepting the competence of the Commission were entitled to participate in this election. 68 States took part in the meeting under the chairmanship of Ambassador Jürg Lindenmann Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law DIL of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and the vice-chairmanship of H.E Ambassador Antonio Trombetta, Ambassador of Argentina in Bern.
After the first ballot the following candidates were elected (in the alphabetical order of their state of origin):
Mr RACHID BELHADJ, Algeria Mr MARIO J.A. OYARZÁBAL, Argentina Mr ALFREDO LABBÉ, Chile Mr THILO MARAUHN, Germany Mr STELIOS PERRAKIS, Greece Mrs RÉKA VARGA, Hungary Mr SHUICHI FURUYA, Japan Mr JUSTINAS ŽILINSKAS, Lithuania Mrs ELŻBIETA MIKOS-SKUZA, Poland Mr ABDULLA RASHID S. A. AL-NAIMI, Qatar Mr FRANCISCO REY MARCOS, Spain Mrs ÅSA MOLDE, Sweden Mrs LAURENCE BOILLAT, Switzerland Mr MOHAMED MAHMOUD AL KAMALI, United Arab Emirates Mr ROBIN M C MCNEILL LOVE, United Kingdom
For the final results containing the number of votes obtained by the elected candidates including the absolute majority and the list of participants, please click here. The newly-formed Commission was elected for a term of office of five years and will enter into function at its first annual meeting planned to take place on 20-22 February 2017 in Geneva. During this diplomatic meeting, the 68 participating States have also unanimously adopted amendments of the Financial Procedures proposed by the Depositary. To consult these amendments, please click here.
Documents:
Final Results (First Ballot incl. absolute majority) List of participants
· 21 October 2016
6th Committee UN General Assembly, New York [21/10/2016]
Statement before the 6th Committee UN General Assembly, New York, October 7th 2016
· 07 September 2016
Diplomatic meeting of the States accepting the competence of the IHFFC [07/09/2016]
Diplomatic meeting of the States accepting the competence of the IHFFC will take place on December 8th 2016 in Bern. In its capacity as Depositary Switzerland has convened this conference in accordance with Article 90(1)(b) of the 1977 Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The main object of this conference is the election of the 15 members of the Commission for a term of 5 years. The States have been invited to submit candidatures no later than 15 October 2016.
The IHFFC at 25 - Presidential Report 2015 [07/09/2016]
Please click here to find an employment offer for a part-time position of Coordination Manager.
· 22 February 2016
Syria – attacks of 15 February 2016 on schools and hospitals [22/02/2016]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) stands ready to offer its services in relation to the attacks of 15 February 2016 on schools and hospitals in Northern Syria – in particular on a hospital supported by Doctors without Borders (MSF) in Ma’arat Al-Numan (Idlib province). In this context, the Commission has taken the necessary steps. The IHFFC is bound by confidentiality and cannot give any further information at this stage.
· 25 January 2016
Yemen - call made by Médecins Sans Frontières [25/01/2016]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) has taken note of the call made by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) in relation to the events in the Razeh district, northern Yemen, on 10th January 2016. The Commission has previously taken appropriate steps and stands ready to provide its services in this context. The IHFFC is bound by confidentiality and cannot give any further information at this stage.
· 05 January 2016
22 - 25 February 2016: IHFFC Annual Meeting in Geneva [05/01/2016]
The 2016 Annual Meeting of the IHFFC will take place from the 22 - 25th of February 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.
· 14 October 2015
Update to the IHFFC statement of 8 October 2015 [14/10/2015]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), an independent body established by Article 90 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, has proposed its services to the Governments of the United States of America and Afghanistan through identical letters dated 7 October 2015. The IHFFC offered its services on its own initiative.
It is for the concerned Governments to decide whether they wish to rely on the IHFFC. The IHFFC can only act based on the consent of the concerned State or States. The IHFFC cannot give any further information at this stage.
The offer of the IHFFC relates to the events in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on 3 October 2015.
3003 Bern