National Committee
It is essential that States implement the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 to the fullest possible extent.
In order to do so, this requires that governments adopt a number of laws and regulations. They must, for example, establish rules on the punishment of violations, the use and protection of the red cross and red crescent emblems and the fundamental rights for protected persons. In addition, governments must spread knowledge of the Conventions and Protocols as widely as possible.
Owing to the broad range of issues associated with these responsibilities, comprehensive implementation of the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) requires coordination and support from all the government departments and other entities concerned. To facilitate this process, some States have created inter-ministerial working groups, often called either national interministerial committees for the implementation of IHL or national humanitarian law committees. Their purpose is to advise and assist the government in implementing and spreading knowledge of IHL.
Setting up such committees is recognized as an important step in ensuring the effective application of IHL.
Canada established a National Committee on International Humanitarian Law (NCHL) in March 1998. It includes five government departments:
- Canadian International Development Agency,
- Department of National Defense,
- Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
- Department of Justice,
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and
the Canadian Red Cross serves as members of the Secretariat for the NCHL.
According to its terms of reference, the NCHL's main functions are to:
- Facilitate implementation of IHL obligations, including reviewing national legislation and administrative measures;
- Consider, and where appropriate, recommend the ratification of additional instruments of IHL;
- Advise on dissemination and training of IHL within Canada, including but not limited to the armed forces, the police, civil servants, humanitarian organizations, the judiciary schools and universities, journalists, and other target groups;
- Coordinate and stimulate government departments and other relevant organizations in strengthening and disseminating IHL;
- Examine and, where appropriate, recommend measures to promote the national implementation of IHL in other countries, drawing on the resources and expertise available in Canada;
- Develop and maintain pool of Canadians who are knowledgeable about IHL; and
- Liaise and exchange information on IHL with other NCHL's and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
