31^st International Conference of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Geneva, 28 November-1 December 2011

The 31^st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (International Conference),

1. adopts the Action Plan in Annex 1,
2. urges all members of the International Conference to implement the actions set out in the Action Plan, in accordance with their respective powers, mandates, capacities and applicable obligations under international humanitarian law, with a view to reaching the objectives defined in the Action Plan;
3. reminds States of the auxiliary role of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, in particular where they work in the framework of national international humanitarian law committees or similar bodies, and encourages States to cooperate with them, as appropriate, in implementing the actions set out in the Action Plan;
4. takes note of existing initiatives by other humanitarian actors and organizations in certain areas covered by this Action Plan and stresses the need to ensure synergies between such initiatives and this Action Plan in cooperation with States;   
5. invites all members of the International Conference to submit pledges, either individually or jointly, in relation to the recommendations contained in the Action Plan;
6. invites international and regional organizations to implement the actions contained in the Action Plan which relate to their activities;
7. requests all members of the International Conference to make every possible effort to ensure that all actors concerned implement, as appropriate, the Action Plan,
8. invites all members of the International Conference to inform the International Committes of the Red Cross on progress made on implementation of the Action Plan, with a view to the presentation of a report on implementation to the 32^nd International Conference in 2015;
9. requests the members of the International Conference to report to the 32^nd International Conference in 2015 on the follow-up to their pledges.

Annex 1: Action plan for implementing international humanitarian law

Objective 1: Enhanced access by civilian populations to humanitarian assistance in armed conflicts

States reaffirm the right of civilian populations in need to benefit from impartial humanitarian relief in accordance with international humanitarian law..

States will ensure, to the fullest extent of the means available to them, that the civilian population is adequately provided with supplies in accordance with relevant provisions of  international humanitarian law.

States will also, in accordance with international humanitarian law, allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian relief for civilian populations in need and will respect and protect humanitarian personnel and objects. 

The components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) must be able to deliver humanitarian assistance at all times in conformity with the Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. States will respect the adherence by all components of the Movement to these Fundamental Principles.

a) Remove administrative barriers to the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance for victims of armed conflicts

States consider, including through enacting domestic legislation or concluding agreements with components of the Movement:

• facilitating the rapid issuance of valid documents allowing the mission of members of components of the Movement access across the international borders of the State and within the State concerned;
• expediting procedures for monitoring the entry and distribution of humanitarian goods of components of the Movement;
• exempting personnel and goods of components of the Movement from taxes, duties and fees, where necessary.

States endeavour to make available the necessary telecommunication facilities to components of the Movement, taking into account the need of the Movement for two-way wireless telecommunication means when normal communication facilities are interrupted or not available, in accordance with Resolution 10 of the 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference. They assign to the components of the Movement the minimum number of necessary working frequencies in accordance with the applicable Radio Regulations and take all practicable steps to protect such communications from harmful interference. States which have not already done so consider acceding to the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations.

b) Establishing and maintaining an environment conducive to dialogue

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the host National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society (National Society) concerned will establish and maintain a constructive dialogue with all parties to armed conflicts in order to obtain access to victims and the necessary security guarantees for its staff. States respect the need for such dialogue and reaffirm the unique position and contribution of the ICRC and National Societies in this regard.

Components of the Movement will continue to ensure that in the planning, delivery and monitoring of humanitarian assistance the specific needs of victims of conflicts as well as local capacities are taken into account.

States and components of the Movement continue their dialogue to ensure a better complementarity between and effective international coordination with different humanitarian actors, taking into account their respective roles and mandates.

c) Implementation and enforcement

States ensure that instruction is provided to members of their armed forces to respect the physical integrity and unimpeded passage of humanitarian personnel and objects in accordance with international humanitarian law.

States adopt adequate measures at a domestic level, including national legislation, to comply with their international obligations concerning arbitrary obstruction of humanitarian assistance and to prevent and sanction attacks on humanitarian personnel and objects.

States ensure that perpetrators of attacks against humanitarian personnel, including personnel using the distinctive emblems in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, are held accountable, by encouraging disciplinary measures and criminal prosecutions.

Objective 2: To enhance the specific protection afforded to certain categories of persons, in particular children, women and persons with disabilities

Specific protection is due to certain categories of persons in recognition of factors such as age, gender or disabilities, which make such persons more vulnerable in times of armed conflicts. To safeguard adequate protection for all victims of armed conflicts, including in situations of occupation, without discrimination, such factors must be taken into account.

Objective 2.1: To enhance the protection of children in armed conflict

States, National Societies and the ICRC will raise awareness of the protection of children in armed conflict by international law, in particular international humanitarian law.

a) Prevention of recruitment of children in armed forces or armed groups

States take effective measures to register children immediately after birth and endeavour to establish supplementary identification and registration systems for all children, including for particularly vulnerable children like internally displaced children and refugee children to protect them from unlawful recruitment.

States consider establishing domestic inspection regimes independent from the armed forces, such as ombudspersons or annual external inspections commissioned by civilian governmental authorities, to monitor the compliance of armed forces with the prohibition of child recruitment.

States, in cooperation with National Societies and the ICRC, design and set up educational and vocational training programmes, where possible, in combination with employment opportunities, to offer boys and girls viable alternatives to recruitment.

b) Ratification, national implementation and enforcement of international law relevant to the prevention and repression of participation in hostilities by children and the recruitment of children into armed forces or armed groups

States which have not already done so consider ratifying or acceding to the 2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflict.

States which have not already done so also consider adhering to the 2007 Paris Principles and Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups.

States which have not already done so consider enacting national legislation or other measures to regulate the minimum age of recruitment into armed forces and armed groups and to prevent the involvement of children in armed conflict in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflict.

States ensure that those who unlawfully recruit children are held accountable for their acts through appropriate measures, inter alia, by referral to courts especially when it constitutes a war crime, in accordance with applicable international law.

c) Protection of education in armed conflict

States reaffirm that attacks against civilians, including children and teachers, are prohibited, unless and for such time as they are directly participating in hostilities. States also reaffirm that attacks against civilian buildings dedicated to education are prohibited unless they make an effective contribution to military action by their nature, location, purpose or use and their total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage. In case of doubt whether civilians or civilian objects lose protection from attack, States treat them as civilians and civilian objects.

States take all feasible precautions to protect children and teachers, as well as civilian buildings dedicated to education from the effects of attacks in accordance with international humanitarian law.

States take all feasible measures to prevent civilian buildings dedicated to education from being used for purposes that could cause them to lose their protection under international humanitarian law.

d) Rehabilitation of children affected by armed conflicts

States ensure that specific provisions for the release of children associated with armed forces and armed groups, for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of such children, for the care of internally displaced children, and for medical care, psychosocial support and economic inclusion of all children affected by armed conflicts, are included in peace agreements. The different needs of boys and girls are given particular attention in such agreements.

Donor States endeavour to ensure long-term funding for the reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups.

e) Juvenile justice

States consider children who have been unlawfully recruited by armed forces or armed groups and are accused of committing domestic or international crimes associated with a conflict primarily as victims, not only as alleged perpetrators.

States consider granting children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups amnesty from prosecutions brought solely on account of their membership in armed forces or armed groups.

Whenever appropriate and desirable, States resort to measures other than judicial proceedings for dealing with alleged child offenders formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups.

States foster gender-sensitive rehabilitation and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups when sentencing them and consider alternatives to imprisonment, such as care, guidance and supervision orders, probation, foster care or education and vocational training programmes.

Objective 2.2: To enhance the protection of women in armed conflict

a) Ratification, implementation and enforcement of relevant international law

States take appropriate legislative, judicial and administrative measures to implement their obligations regarding the protection of women and girls under international humanitarian law.

States take all feasible measures to reduce the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to ensure that their specific protection and assistance needs are met.

States commit themselves to putting an end to impunity and to prosecute, in accordance with their obligations under international law, serious violations of international humanitarian law involving sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls, and for this purpose, enhance their capacity to prevent, monitor and document acts of sexual violence and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, and to this end, to cooperate, in conformity with their international obligations both at inter-State level and with international criminal tribunals and courts.

b) Prevention of sexual and other gender-based violence against women

States ensure that all feasible measures are employed to prevent all serious violations of international humanitarian law involving sexual and other forms of gender-based violence against women. Such measures include:

• pre-deployment and in-theatre gender training of armed forces on their responsibilities, as well as the rights and particular needs and protection of women and girls;
• military disciplinary measures and other measures such as reporting requirements on incidents of sexual violence to avoid impunity;
• ensuring that female detainees and internees are supervised by women and separated from male detainees and internees, except where families are accommodated as family units;
• ensuring, whenever possible, that female personnel are present during the interrogation of female detainees; and
• ensuring, whenever possible, women’s participation in decision-making in peace processes.

c) Displaced women

Recognizing the great number of women among displaced persons, including in their role as heads of households, States take appropriate measures to ensure their physical and mental integrity, as well as to respect their dignity. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making, to protective measures for internally displaced persons against gender-based violence, such as location and protection of shelter, identified support and reporting systems, as well as access to female and child health care services and those who provide it.

Objective 2.3.: To enhance the protection of persons with disabilities during armed conflicts

States recognize that under international humanitarian law, persons with disabilities may fall within the category of the wounded and sick or civilians enjoying particular respect and protection such as the infirm.

States take all possible measures to ensure access by persons with disabilities to the specific medical care and attention, physical rehabilitation, as well as socioeconomic inclusion required by their condition, especially in remote rural areas.

States, in cooperation with components of the Movement, facilitate steps taken to search for, collect and evacuate persons with disabilities to ensure the appropriate medical care and attention, physical rehabilitation, as well as socio-economic inclusion, required by their condition, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

States and components of the Movement take the specific needs of persons with disabilities into account in the planning, delivery and monitoring of their humanitarian assistance efforts, including with regard to access to shelter, water, sanitation, food distribution, education, medical care, physical rehabilitation, transportation, communication, and socio-economic inclusion programmes. They consult, when feasible, at all relevant stages of planning and implementation of their humanitarian assistance activities with the persons themselves, their families or local organizations of persons with disabilities.

Donor States consider the specific needs of persons with disabilities with regard to accessibility of humanitarian assistance in their funding guidelines.

Objective 3: Enhanced protection of journalists and the role of the media with regard to international humanitarian law

States and components of the Movement recognize that the work of journalists, other media professionals and associated personnel (hereinafter: journalists) may make an important contribution to the public knowledge about and the recording of information on violations of international humanitarian law. Thereby, journalists may assist in preventing violations of international humanitarian law as well as in facilitating the fight against impunity for such violations. States and components of the Movement also recognize that journalists may affect the respect for international humanitarian law in other ways, such as the obligation to protect detainees against public curiosity.

States reaffirm that journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict are civilians and shall not be the object of attacks, unless and for such time as they are directly participating in hostilities. This is without prejudice to the right of war correspondents accredited to the armed forces to the status of prisoners of war provided for in Article 4.A.4 of the Third Geneva Convention.

States also reaffirm that media equipment and installations shall be considered as civilian objects and in this respect shall not be the object of attack, unless they make an effective contribution to military action by their nature, location, purpose or use, such as by the transmission of military intelligence or military orders, and their total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage.

States integrate in the international humanitarian law training of members of their armed forces specific components on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts.

States and components of the Movement continue their efforts to disseminate relevant international humanitarian law on rights and responsibilities of journalists, as well as to provide security training to journalists to prepare them for eventualities arising in armed conflicts.

States take adequate measures in their domestic legal orders, including criminal and mutual legal assistance legislation, to prevent and sanction serious violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including against journalists, and ensure that such violations do not go unpunished.

Objective 4: To improve the incorporation and repression of serious violations of international humanitarian law

a) National incorporation

States, where applicable with the assistance of national international humanitarian law commissions or similar bodies, identify the extent of all their international obligations related to the repression of serious violations of international humanitarian law and ensure their incorporation in the domestic legal order.

In light of the right of families to know the fate of their relatives as referred to in Article 32 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I as applicable, States consider enacting appropriate legislation or arrangements to ensure adequate participation and representation of victims and their families as well as access to justice and protection of victims and witnesses, especially of women and children, in proceedings before their courts and in other transitional justice mechanisms concerning serious violations of international humanitarian law.

States recognize the importance of redressing gross violations of international humanitarian law. States also consider providing appropriate means to assist victims of violations of international humanitarian law together with appropriate resources for the implementation of these mechanisms, recalling in this regard the work of the ICRC discussing the framework of reparations, taking into account the primary role of States in the development of international humanitarian law.

States recognize the importance of complementary approaches to criminal sanctions and put in place mechanisms for the effective application of disciplinary, financial or other sanctions on violations of international humanitarian law.

b) Roles of Movement and States

National Societies, within their mandate and in their role as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, assist States in the incorporation of serious international humanitarian law violations into the domestic legal orders, in particular where they work in the framework of national international humanitarian law commissions or similar bodies. The ICRC continues to provide technical assistance for the incorporation of such crimes.

States, in cooperation with the ICRC and National Societies, pay special attention to the dissemination of international humanitarian law to legal professionals, including prosecutors and judges.

States commit to fulfil their existing obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with Article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions.

The ICRC will continue its efforts to make the content of international humanitarian law accessible to parties to armed conflicts and to provide appropriate training to them so that the consequences of non-compliance are adequately internalized by their members.

States cooperate with one another and with international criminal tribunals, in accordance with their obligations under applicable international law, to ensure:

• adequate knowledge of international humanitarian law by legal professionals, including lawyers, prosecutors and judges;
• gathering and sharing of evidence;
• provision of information to victims and their communities on their rights and the protection of victims and witnesses;
• respect for rights of fair trial of the accused;
• provision of an appropriate remedy to victims;
• enforcement of sentences.

Objective 5: Arms transfers

States and components of the  Movement note the importance attached by previous International Conferences to ensuring that the use of all weapons in armed conflict complies with the principles and rules of international humanitarian law.

The ICRC and National Societies promote public awareness of the human cost of poorly regulated transfers of arms and ammunition.

The ICRC and National Societies, aware that work is under way in the UN context to address this issue, encourage effective arms transfer controls that include criteria so that arms do not end up in the hands of those who may be expected to use them to violate international humanitarian law.

Recalling their obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, States strengthen controls on the transfer of weapons so that they do not end up in the hands of those who may be expected to use them to violate international humanitarian law, and, in this context recall Resolution 3 of the 30^th International Conference 2007 and Final Goal 2.3. of the Agenda for Humanitarian Action, adopted by the 28^th International Conference 2003

Reaffirming Final Goal 2.3 of the Agenda for Humanitarian Action, adopted by the 28^th International Conference 2003, States should make respect for international humanitarian law one of the important criteria on which arms transfer decisions are assessed. States are encouraged to make efforts to incorporate such criteria into national laws or policies and into regional and global norms on arms transfers.