Switzerland is obliged to implement and to further promote International Humanitarian Law at home as well. The Interdepartmental Committee for International Humanitarian Law (ICIHL) fosters and coordinates activities in this area.
The Interdepartmental Committee is tasked with the administration-internal exchange of experience and information on International Humanitarian Law and its implementation in Switzerland. It ensures optimum coordination among the Federal authorities and maintains relations with the scientific community, civil society, and other organizations concerned with International Humanitarian Law, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Activities
The Interdepartmental Committee participates in the training of the Swiss authorities personnel and persons outside the Federal administration in matters of International Humanitarian Law. The Committee also supports the ICRC in its yearly up-date of its study on Customary International Humanitarian Law. In so doing, the Committee compiles new declarations, legal texts, and judgements on the part of Switzerland.
International recommendation
The Federal Council set up the Interdepartmental Committee for International Humanitarian Law further to a recommendation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Some 100 States already boast of this type of committee recognized by the ICRC.
The Swiss Interdepartmental Committee is composed of representatives of the FDFA, the DDPS, the FDJP, the FDEA, and the FDHA. The Directorate of International Law (DIL) at the FDFA holds the Chairmanship. Every year, the Committee approves an action plan setting down the corresponding priorities and objectives.
