States Parties to the Geneva Conventions (and to their Protocols) have committed themselves in Article 1 common to the four Conventions to respect and to ensure respect for these treaties.
By recognising the competence of the Commission, States can contribute significantly to the implementation of international humanitarian law and consequently to the protection of victims of armed conflicts.
One of the most important characteristics of the Commission is that it may conduct an investigation only with the consent of the parties involved.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation prepared the following model declaration of recognition of the competence of the Commission.
The Commission has received support and encouragement through a number of resolutions, declarations, recommendations and guidelines adopted by international institutions and bodies.