ANNUAL REPORT 2016 PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT Geneva Call | Annual Report 2016 MISSION FOREWORD 02 | 03 GENEVA CALL’S MISSION Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental Geneva Call also responds to requests from ANSAs to help build 2016 was marked by at least 36 non-international armed Indeed, it is imperative that we continue to advocate organization dedicated to promoting respect, by armed their knowledge of, and capacity to implement, humanitarian conflicts taking place in 20 States. The ten most significant the need for engagement with ANSAs as a complement non-State actors (ANSAs) in armed conflict and other norms, and provides training and technical advice. In addition, conflicts in the world were all non-international in nature, to humanitarian assistance: Geneva Call’s approaches situations of violence, for humanitarian norms, in the organization may provide other assistance and services involving one or several armed non-State actors (ANSAs). address the factors that create violations in the first place. particular those related to the protection of civilians. within communities where ANSAs operate. We see a trend in urgent conflict situations in which ever Geneva Call is currently focusing its efforts on banning the ANSAs differ greatly in terms of their sizes, objectives, more means are dedicated to humanitarian assistance, at use of anti-personnel mines, protecting children from the Geneva Call subscribes to the humanitarian principles of structures and modi operandi. Many conflicts have no the expense of dialogue on protecting civilians from the effects of armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence in neutrality, impartiality and independence, and seeks to clearly delineated front lines, and the distinction between outset. Unfortunately, this trend damages the fact that armed conflict, preventing displacement and working ensure transparency by informing stakeholders, including civilians and combatants can become blurred. Hostilities much civilian suffering can be avoided when humanitarian towards the elimination of gender discrimination. the States concerned, of its engagement efforts with ANSAs. take place in a multitude of locations, with changing actors assistance and persistent preventive dialogue are deployed and alliances. A clear end is rarely in sight. in parallel. These situations require Geneva Call to scale up its We are proud to carry out this fundamental task with such operations to reply to the increase in needs and to the dedicated, enthusiastic staff, interns and local partners, as A UNIQUE DIRECTORY OF ARMED NON-STATE FIGHTER NOT KILLER QUIZ: ACTORS’ HUMANITARIAN COMMITMENTS A MOBILE APPLICATION ON THE RULES OF WAR complexity of the contexts. Moreover, our organization well as with the full commitment of the Board of Trustees must reinforce its infrastructure and the security framework and Advisory Committee. We would like to thank them www.theirwords.org is an online collection of Can a hospital be targeted if the enemy is inside and for its staff in order to provide the best conditions for them all warmly for their tireless work towards our primary commitments and policies made by ANSAs on targeting you? Can you enrol young people as to work in such volatile, unsafe conflict environments. In objective: the improved protection of civilians in armed international humanitarian law (IHL) and international combatants without ensuring that they are 18? 2016, these elements resulted in a budget increase of conflict. human rights law (IHRL) issues. It includes unilateral Geneva Call’s mobile application quiz is designed to 40% and the adoption of a new Strategy for 2017–2019. declarations and statements, internal rules and test users on their knowledge of humanitarian norms. However, this progress must be set against the fact that We hope that this annual report will encourage you to regulations, and agreements made by ANSAs with Geneva Call’s financial position remains fragile in the sense pursue your valuable support for Geneva Call in order to governments, inter-governmental or humanitarian The quiz has two levels of difficulty and 28 scenarios. that most of the funding is earmarked. help us ensure an adequate humanitarian response and a organizations. The publication of such documents Users are faced with true-to-life situations and reduction of civilian suffering in armed conflict. does not mean endorsement by Geneva Call, nor that questions related to assisting the wounded, the use Geneva Call’s operational model also entails persistently the commitments made by ANSAs are compliant with of certain weapons, child protection, the conduct of communicating its messages about protecting civilians in IHL and IHRL, nor that they have been implemented hostilities or war tactics. armed conflict and testimonies from the field, notably in and respected in practice. the key international fora which it is invited to participate Disseminating the law of war to warring parties, and in, such as the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. www.theirwords.org contains over 500 online documents. in particular to ANSAs, is essential to ensuring the It fills a gap in available resources and serves to better protection of civilian populations during armed understand ANSA views on IHL and IHRL. conflicts. To download it: http://www.genevacall.org/ mobile-application-rules-war/ Follow us on: Elisabeth Decrey Warner Bertrand Reich Executive President President of the Board of Trustees appel.de.geneve Geneva Call genevacall Geneva Call 2 GenevaCall Graphic Design: www.kathleenmorf.ch Cover Photo: A student at the Aal Okab school stands in the ruins of one of his former classrooms, which was destroyed during the conflict.© Giles Clarke for UN-OCHA/Getty Images Back Page Photo: ANSA fighters in the DRC.© Geneva Call Icon p10-11: Refugees © Gerald Wildmoser from the Noun Project Printing:www.imprimerie-villiere.com 47, chemin de la Chevillarde 1224 Chêne-Bougeries • Switzerland Paper: Printed entirely on FSC recycled paper T. +41 22 879 10 50 • F. +41 22 879 10 51 using organic inks [email protected] • www.genevacall.org © Geneva Call, July 2017 Geneva Call | Annual Report 2016 Geneva Call | Annual Report 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENEVA CALL 04 | 05 2 Mission WHY GENEVA CALL 3 Foreword 5 Geneva Call Today’s armed conflicts mostly involve ANSAs fighting Geneva Call also engages non-recognized States and in 6 Highlights 2016 either government forces or other ANSAs. Although IHL situations of violence other than armed conflict if it is 8 Map of operations has established a comprehensive legal framework to deemed that its action can have a positive impact on the 10 Abbreviations and definitions limit the effects of armed conflicts, violations are groups targeted and lead to better protection for civilians. widespread, and they are often—though by no means THEMATIC AREAS always—committed by ANSAs. ANSAs cannot become 12 Child protection parties to the relevant international treaties that GENEVA CALL’S APPROACH 14 Gender issues predominantly focus on the rights and obligations of 16 Humanitarian norms States. Consequently, ANSAs may not feel obliged to Geneva Call’s approach to ANSAs is progressive, inclusive 18 Landmine ban respect rules that they have neither proposed nor to and constructive. Its key tool for engaging with ANSAs is an 20 Displacement which they have formally adhered. Sometimes, they are innovative instrument known as aDeed of Commitment; this simply not aware of their obligations under IHL. Engaging allows ANSAs to formally express their willingness to abide AFRICA with ANSAs is, therefore, a critical element in any effort by humanitarian norms regarding a specific theme (e.g. 21 Democratic Republic of the Congo to enhance their feelings of ownership of and respect for landmine ban, child protection and/or gender issues) and to 22 South Sudan existing rules, thereby improving the protection that be held accountable to their pledge. In some circumstances, 23 Sudan civilians require. Geneva Call works with ANSAs using other tools, such as a 24 Western Sahara digest of humanitarian norms expressed as a set of 15 rules of behaviour for ANSA fighters. Geneva Call accompanies ASIA ARMED NON-STATE ACTORS implementation processes and monitors the compliance of 25 Burma/Myanmar all the ANSAs which sign Deeds of Commitment. Throughout 26 India In the context of its mission, Geneva Call focuses on the whole process, Geneva Call and its partners help 27 Thailand engaging organized armed entities that are involved in ANSAs to build their capacity to understand, implement and armed conflict, are primarily motivated by political goals enforce both the Deeds of Commitment and broader LATIN AMERICA and operate outside State control; they thereby lack the humanitarian norms. This includes training, capacity 28 Colombia legal capacity to become parties to relevant international building, the dissemination of materials and work with treaties. These include non-State armed groups, national CSOs/CBOs. Geneva Call’s approach is based on the principle EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST liberation movements and de facto governing authorities. that ANSAs should be stakeholders in these norms. 29 Iran 30 Iraq 31 Lebanon 32 Syria Civilians in Homs. Syria. © B. Diab/UNHCR 33 Turkey 34 Ukraine 35 Operational support 38 Communication, fundraising and management 41 Financial report 43 Donors and supporters 44 List of engaged armed non-State actors 46 Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment 47 Support Geneva Call | Annual Report 2016 GENEVA CALL HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2016 06 | 07 GENEVA CALL ALSO: Geneva Call worked in Geneva Call increased the 14 contexts, with knowledge of humanitarian 61 active armed norms amongst Defined its Strategy Positioned itself as non-State actors 3,321 leaders, for 2017–2019, a leading encouraging them to move fighters, trainers the purpose of which is organization towards compliance with and representatives to provide its staff and recognized for sustainable governing body with an humanitarian norms. from local communities or engagement of ANSAs with explicit framework for action authorities including, regards to humanitarian norms to guide its work and measure notably by being invited to 811 women.