IHFFC will hold a Side-Event at the 34th Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent [16/09/2024]
In armed conflicts, the uncertainty around facts and violations of IHL has grown due to misinformation, information warfare and deep fakes. IHL foresees some but limited mechanisms aiming at establishing facts and enhancing respect for IHL, including the International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC). In practice, a lack of institutional anchoring has been among the reasons why these mechanisms have not been fully effective. The IHFFC’s functioning primarily depends on States that have accepted its competence. Accordingly, the IHFFC has contributed to bilateral exchanges with governments, but also to good offices in order to ensure an attitude of respect for IHL. In 2017, it has conducted its first mission upon the request of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and it is currently providing its good offices to the Republic of Poland in respect of an incident in the Gaza Strip. [...]
· 21 June 2024
Poland: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding [21/06/2024]
The President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), Thilo Marauhn, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, on 20 June 2024 signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the IHFFC in respect of the incident of 1 April 2024 in the Gaza Strip. During this incident, seven people working with the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed, including a Polish citizen. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Commission will establish the facts of the incident and reaffirm applicable international humanitarian law. [...]
· 29 May 2024
IHFFC Annual Meeting 2024 [29/05/2024]
The International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC) held its annual meeting from 27 to 29 May 2024 in Geneva. During the meeting, the Commission discussed its substantive program of work for this year, among other relevant issues. Established under Article 90 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, the IHFFC is available to parties in armed conflicts to restore respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL). [...]
· 23 May 2024
Poland accepts offer of good offices [23/05/2024]
The government of Poland, by letter dated 11 April 2024, has accepted the offer of good offices made by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) in respect of the incident of 1 April 2024 in the Gaza Strip, when seven people working with the United States-based NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed, including a Polish citizen. The IHFFC and the government of Poland are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding to lay down the details of the goods offices to be provided by the IHFFC.
· 08 April 2024
Offer of good offices [08/04/2024]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), through letters dated 04 and 08 April 2024, has offered its good offices to the governments of Australia, Canada, Palestine, Poland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America in respect of the incident of 1 April 2024 in the Gaza Strip, when seven people working with the United States-based NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed, including citizens of all the above-mentioned states.
· 10 November 2023
Offer of good offices to Israel and Palestine [10/11/2023]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) has offered its good offices to Israel and of Palestine through letters dated 10 November 2023. The IHFFC stands ready to assist Israel and Palestine in respect of the current situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
· 06 June 2023
IHFFC Annual Meeting 2023 [06/06/2023]
The International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC) held its annual meeting from 5 to 7 June 2023 in Geneva. Based on Article 90 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, the IHFFC is at the disposal of any parties to armed conflicts to support them restoring an attitude of respect for IHL. [...]
· 10 November 2022
Meeting with Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs [10/11/2022]
The delegation of the IHFFC, composed of the members of its Bureau, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland on 10 November 2022. The delegation was received by: Mr Marcin Przydacz - Undersecretary of State for Security, the Americas, Asia and Eastern Policy, Mr Konrad Marciniak - Director of the Legal and Treaty Department and Mr Sławomir Majszyk - Deputy Director of the Legal and Treaty Department. [...]
· 17 May 2022
IHFFC Annual Meeting 2022 [17/05/2022]
The International Humanitarian Fact-finding Commission (IHFFC) held its annual meeting in two parts on 28 March and 16/17 May 2022 online and in Geneva. This was the first meeting of the IHFFC members since their election, held last November, by the 76 States parties to the First Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions that have recognised the Commission's competence. [...]
· 25 April 2022
Statement [25/04/2022]
The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, the only treaty-based standing body addressing compliance with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol I of 1977, in light of its mission to Eastern Ukraine in 2017 undertaken at the request of the OSCE, having offered its good offices to Russia and Ukraine in March 2022, calls upon both parties to the conflict to maintain and, where necessary, restore an attitude of respect for the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I. The Commission reiterates its offer of good offices, in order to protect the victims of the ongoing armed conflict, indicating the importance of an impartial, independent and expert-based analysis of the current hostilities.
3003 Bern