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Expert Meeting on Multinational Peace Operations: Applicability of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law to UN Mandated Forces, 11-12 December 2003

Author(s)

Alexandre Faite .

Dr Robert Kolb .

Dr Sylvain Vité .

Research Project

The Coordination of the Rules of International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and Criminal Law Applicable to International Forces and Transitional Civil Administrations

> see the project description

Keywords

Applicability - International Human Rights Law - International Humanitarian Law - Multinational Peace Operations - UN Mandated Forces

Abstract

The applicability of international humanitarian law and international human rights law to UNmandated forces raises a number of questions that are still open to debate. At the Expert Meeting held in Geneva on 11-12 December 2003, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Geneva-based University Centre for International Humanitarian Law, these questions were discussed by a panel of academic experts, military legal advisers, representatives of international organizations and ICRC lawyers. The meeting was divided into three sessions. Two were devoted to the applicability of international humanitarian law, and one to the applicability of international human rights law to UNmandated forces.

During the meeting, the experts discussed the circumstances in which UN-mandated forces may become a party to a conflict and the rules of international humanitarian law that such forces are bound to respect. New elements introduced by international instruments such as the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, were considered. Issues relating to the application of the UN Secretary-General's Bulletin on “Observance by United Nations forces of international humanitarian law” were also examined.

Another topic debated during the expert meeting was whether the law of occupation is applicable to a multinational force deployed in a territory pursuant to a UN mandate, but without the consent of the State concerned. Issues relating to the de facto use of the law of occupation were also discussed. While the applicability of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention has seldom been recognized in the framework of operations carried out pursuant to a UN mandate, the forces involved sometimes comply de facto with its provisions.

The present report reproduces the entire contents of the discussions held in Geneva on 11-12 December 2003 and all documents relating to this meeting

File(s)

Report of the Expert Meeting on Multinational Peace Operations - Applicability of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law to UN Mandated Forces
English | [2663 ko] > download