Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
Utilise International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission to establish IHL breaches and recommend its services.
Recommendation
Specifically, we recommend that the UK makes better use of the good offices of the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission as part of its process of establishing whether IHL has been broken in specific cases. It should also be actively recommending these services to others. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees, stating it recognises the IHFFC as an important mechanism and, while it hasn't used it in specific past contexts, it will consider its use where appropriate and will promote the use of the IHFFC.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
63. The UK supports fact-finding and investigative mechanisms established by the UN and other international bodies, where appropriate. These bodies often differ in their mandates – whether they are established to monitor situations, collate evidence for future investigations, or themselves conduct non-judicial investigations. 64. The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) is a dedicated expert body established under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, 1949. The IHFFC stands at the service of parties to an armed conflict to conduct enquiries into alleged violations of IHL, and to facilitate, through its good offices, the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Geneva Conventions and Protocol. 65. The UK has recognised the IHFFC’s competence since 1999 and is an active supporter of its mission, providing core funding as well as both diplomatic and operational support. The UK has shown leadership within the IHFFC’s Group of Friends, serving as its inaugural Chair, with the first meeting at the UK Permanent Mission to the UN in New York in 2019. 66. We acknowledge that there are challenges as to where and how the IHFFC may be called upon, for instance where a state has not ratified Additional Protocol 1 or recognised its role. However, we agree that the IHFFC is a crucial resource, and the UK will continue to advocate that others consider use of this body for independent, expert investigations as appropriate.
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