Respect, reinforcement and promotion of international humanitarian law are among Switzerland’s foreign policy priorities. The basis for its commitment is the common Article 1 of the 4 Geneva Conventions: “The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances”.

Switzerland promotes respect for international humanitarian law in given conflict situations. Various instruments are at its disposal for this purpose. Switzerland can:

• Offer its good offices;
• Publicly condemn violations of the Conventions;
• Urge the conflict parties to respect international humanitarian law;
• Instigate diplomatic measures.

 International humanitarian law

Switzerland is actively committed to reinforcing international humanitarian law by advocating the prosecution of parties that violate its provisions. It also supports the International Criminal Court, the International War Crimes Tribunals and the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, and is an active opponent of anti-personnel land mines and cluster munitions.
 International justice

To promote international humanitarian law, Switzerland either endorses or launches various initiatives and activities. Examples:

• Launch of an initiative to promote compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights in the deployment by private military and security companies (at the beginning of 2006, in conjunction with the ICRC). As a result, on 17 September 2008 seventeen States approved the Montreux Document, which explains relevant humanitarian obligations and includes a list of measures to help countries implement their obligations when dealing with private military and security companies.
   The Montreux Document
   
• Organisation of high-level informal meetings of experts in conjunction with the Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research: the involved experts analyse current challenges concerning international humanitarian law. This is supported by an Internet research portal.  www.ihlresearch.org
   
• Active support of the work of an international group of experts that produced a handbook on aerial warfare and the deployment of missiles. The handbook appeared at the beginning of March 2010.
   Factsheet: HPCR manual on international law applicable to air and missile warfare (pdf)
   Manual and accompanying commentary
   
• Organisation of further meetings of experts, for example concerning the issue of access to humanitarian aid in armed conflicts, or seminars under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
   International Conference - Geneva, 9/10.11.2009
   Ministerial working session - New York, 26.09.2009
   
• Organisation of diplomatic conferences: in 2005 the third additional protocol to the Geneva Conventions was approved at a diplomatic conference held in Geneva. Under the terms of this protocol, a red crystal was adopted as an additional emblem.
•  Interdepartmental Committee for International Humanitarian Law