Actions taken:
Facts and figures:
- The UK has continued to be at the forefront of work to strengthen the Arms Trade Treaty, including, in March 2017, contributing £311,000 to the Voluntary Trust Fund, which supports States in implementing the provisions of the treaty.
- In 2019, the UK produced a voluntary report on the implementation of IHL at domestic level.
- The UK provided funding support for two meetings on IHL within the Commonwealth: the 4th Meeting of Representatives of National IHL Committees from Commonwealth countries, held in Namibia in June 2017, and the 5th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on IHL, to be held in Rwanda in June 2019.
The UK presented on panels at the 5th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on IHL in Kigali, Rwanda, discussing protection of journalists, voluntary reporting on domestic implementation of IHL and preventing sexual violence in conflict.
In 2019, the UK produced a voluntary report on the implementation of IHL at domestic level. The report focuses on several aspects of IHL implementation, including domestic implementation, dissemination, training and legal advice. The UK publication is intended to help to improve understanding of IHL, and encourage and inform dialogue on IHL issues both at home and abroad. The United Kingdom National Committee on International Humanitarian Law led the compilation of this Voluntary Report and the British Red Cross, in its capacity as an auxiliary to the UK Government, assisted the FCO with the production of this Voluntary Report. The report is available on HMG’s gov.uk website.
The UK has been a strong supporter of the intergovernmental process to strengthen respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), as co-ordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Switzerland. As part of our input, we submitted two joint papers with Argentina, outlining possible options for furthering the initiative. Although consensus was not achieved in driving the initiative forward, the UK will continue to work with EU and other like-minded States to explore opportunities to create a mechanism to discuss IHL implementation. Related to this, we encourage the ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in their capacities as co-organisers of the 33rd International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference to ensure that the Conference programme includes a strong IHL component.
The UK participated in work to strengthen IHL protecting persons deprived of their liberty. Although consensus was not achieved in taking the process forward, the UK will continue to work with the ICRC and like-minded States to achieve concrete outcomes.
There was appropriate consultation with the British Red Cross on these matters.
The UK has continued to play an active role across the full range of Conventional Arms Control treaties and conventions, which operate within the principles established by IHL. In 2017, the UK used its Chairmanship of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to strengthen the regime further. The UK has continued to be at the forefront of work to strengthen the Arms Trade Treaty, including, in March 2017, contributing £311,000 to the Voluntary Trust Fund, which supports States in implementing the provisions of the treaty. In discussions in the arms control fora, around Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems and the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, the UK continued to argue strongly that the use of existing and new weapons systems needs to be in strict conformity with the provisions of IHL.
The UK provided funding support for two meetings on IHL within the Commonwealth: the 4th Meeting of Representatives of National IHL Committees from Commonwealth countries, held in Namibia in June 2017, and the 5th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on IHL, held in Rwanda in June 2019. The UK and the British Red Cross participated activity in the first, and both were also pleased to attend the second. The British Red Cross also provided technical assistance for both events.
