Actions taken:
– Has your organisation taken action on the implementation of this pledge?
Yes
– Please describe the actions taken (including challenges encountered if there is any) and provide concrete examples (including written reports, programme information, photos and videos)
Key facts and figures
As part of the Action Plan for the joint United Kingdom and British Red Cross Pledge on addressing contemporary challenges in International Humanitarian Law, the UK and the British Red Cross have accomplished the following:
The UK, with the support of the British Red Cross, has contributed to continued efforts to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law, including through the development of a Voluntary Report on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law at Domestic Level, published in March 2019 (please see the attached).
The UK engages in further work on strengthening international humanitarian law protecting persons deprived of their liberty, co-operating with the British Red Cross as appropriate. This may be said to include dissemination to journalists covering situations of armed conflict. In November 2018, the British Red Cross published a handbook and a field guide on the protection and responsibilities of media professionals under international humanitarian law.
The UK and the British Red Cross have promoted the establishment of weapons reviews as envisaged under Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and encouraged the sharing of best practice. The UK has accomplished this by holding meetings and sending representatives to meetings attended by representatives of different countries and by non-government bodies. For example, at the Universal Meeting of National Committees and Similar Bodies on IHL, held in Geneva from 30 November – 2 December 2016, there was a side event on weapons reviews at which a senior British Army Officer spoke. Moreover, on 24 May 2019, an international law adviser with the British Red Cross spoke on the value of weapons reviews at an academic conference on lethal autonomous weapons systems.
The UK and the British Red Cross continue to encourage discussion and effective implementation of international humanitarian law within the Commonwealth, for example, both the UK and the British Red Cross provided financial and technical support for the 5th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on IHL, held in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2019.
On 11 March 2019 the United Kingdom Government published its first “Voluntary Report on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law at Domestic Level”.
The publication of this report reflects the UK Government’s strong commitment to the proper implementation of, and compliance with, International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
The voluntary report aims to explain in a single document the key steps that the United Kingdom has taken at a domestic level to implement IHL. Publishing specific examples of our practice to implement IHL is intended to help improve understanding of IHL and encourage and inform dialogue on IHL issues both at home and abroad. We hope that it will encourage other States, in co-operation with their respective National Societies, to publish details of their activities to implement IHL at the domestic level, to better identify best practice and ultimately to improve implementation and compliance with IHL.
Whilst the voluntary report is a United Kingdom Government publication, the British Red Cross (in our auxiliary capacity and as a member of the UK National IHL Committee) had the privilege of providing drafting and design assistance. Due to the input of the British Red Cross, Michael Meyer, Head of International Law, was invited to give a short speech at the launch event for the publication organised by the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva on Thursday, 28 March 2019.
Challenges
There have also been ongoing challenges in implementing part of the joint pledge. Specifically, the British Red Cross is aware that the initiative to strengthen IHL protecting persons deprived of their liberty is undergoing significant challenges. We continue to support the UK, as and when requested, in seeking ways to take forward this process.
– Attached files (the size of the attachment should not exceed 10 Mb)
UK Voluntary Report on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law at Domestic Level
The attached photograph shows the British Red Cross’ Head of International Law, Michael Meyer, giving a short speech at the launch of the UK Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL at Domestic Level in Geneva on 28 March 2019.
– Is your report complete ?
Complete
Michael Meyer
31 July 2019
