National Commissions

Argentina

Structure

Comisión de Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CADIH)

c/o Ministerio de Defensa
Azopardo 250, Piso 13°
1328 Buenos Aires
Tel. +5411 43468877

Date of establishment

Established: 1994
Legal basis: Executive Decree No. 933/94 of 16 June 1994
Operation: internal regulations

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, and Justice
Chairmanship: rotating among the participating ministries
Secretariat: Ministry of Defense

Mandate and activities

To ensure implementation of international humanitarian law by drawing up laws, regulations and other texts designed to ensure respect for international commitments in this area; to teach and disseminate international humanitarian law among the military and civilians.

Bolivia

Structure

Comisión Nacional Permanente para la aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CNPADIH)

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto
Plaza Murillo, Ingavi esqu. Junín
La Paz

Date of establishment

Established:1992
Legal basis: Decree No. 23.345 of 2 December 1992; reorganized pursuant to Resolution No.218.456 of 17 August 1998 issued by the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, which came into force on 30 October1998
Operation: internal regulations

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense, Interior, Sustainable Development and Planning, Supreme Court, National Congress, Bolivian Red Cross, and academic circles
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mandate and activities

To monitor the dissemination and implementation of international humanitarian law; to examine internal regulations and any amendments required for the incorporation of provisions of humanitarian law into national legislation, and to propose their approval by the executive and legislative authorities.

Canadá

Structure

Canadian National Committee for Humanitarian Law

c/o Canadian Red Cross Society
170 Metcalfe St., Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2P2

Date of establishment

Established: 1998
Legal basis: Memorandum of understanding of 18 March 1998
Operation: according to terms of reference of 18 March 1998

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Justice, Solicitor-General (represented by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Red Cross Society), and Canadian International Development Agency
Chairmanship: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Secretariat: Canadian Red Cross Society

Mandate and activities

To recommend ratification of instruments of international humanitarian law;
to facilitate the implementation of obligations arising from this body of law, in particular by reviewing and advising on national legislation and administrative measures (repression of violations of humanitarian law, protection of the emblems, guarantees for protected persons);
to advise on disseminating and training in international humanitarian law in Canada (aimed at the armed forces, police, civil servants, humanitarian organizations, legal and medical professions, schools and universities, journalists and the public at large);
to coordinate and stimulate activities of the government and other organizations to strengthen and disseminate humanitarian law;
to recommend the adoption of measures to promote national implementation in other States drawing on the resources and expertise available in Canada;
to maintain a pool of personnel with expertise in humanitarian law and ensure links with other national committees and the ICRC.

Chile

Structure

Comisión Nacional de Derecho Humanitario (CNDH)

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Dirección Jurídica
Catedral 1158
3° Piso, Oficina 339
Santiago
Tel. +562-6794237/8
Fax +562-699-5517

Date of establishment

Established: 1994
Legal basis: Decree No. 1229 of 31 August 1994
Operation: internal regulations of 1 June 1995

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, Education, Health, Justice, and Culture
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mandate and activities

To review and propose to the authorities legislative and administrative measures ensuring the practical implementation of international humanitarian law.

Colombia

Structure

Comisión Intersectorial Permanente para los Derechos Humanos y el Derecho Internacional Humanitario

c/o Vicepresidencia de la República
Carrera 8 No. 7-27
Bogotá
Tel. +5714442120/2864126br> Fax +571 2863589

Date of establishment

Established: 2000
Legal basis: Presidential Decree No. 321 of 25 February 2000
Operation: internal regulations

Composition and operation

Representatives: Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense, Labor and Social Security, and High Commissioner for Peace
Chairmanship: Vice-Presidency of the Republic

Mandate and activities

To orientate, encourage and coordinate the national plan of action adopted in order to promote respect for human right and the application of international humanitarian law;
to ensure the adoption of national measures and evaluate periodically the progress made;
to consolidate institutional mechanisms for the protection of human rights and international humanitarian law and encourage dissemination to the public;
to promote the amendment of national measures to comply with international treaties to which Colombia is a party and help carry out international commitments;
to analyze the recommendations formulated by international bodies and evaluate means of implementation at the national level;
to promote cooperation between the government and other organizations in order to strengthen respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

Costa Rica

Structure

Comisión Costarricense de Derecho Internacional Humanitario

Comisión Costarricense de Derecho Internacional Humanitario Secretaría Ejecutiva

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto Dirección Jurídica
Avenida 7, Calles 11 y 13
Casa Amarilla
San José, Costa Ricar
Tel: ++506 233 6625
++506 233 7555, ext. 243
Fax: ++506 233 6625
E-mail: [email protected]

Date of establishment

Established: 2004
Legal Basis: Executive Decree N° 32077-RE of May 21, 2004 of the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Relations and Culture, published in the Official Gazette N° 216 of November 4, 2004.
Operation: Comisión Costarricense de Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CCDIH),approved in Regular Session N° 2-05 at 10:45 on February 24, 2005.

Composition and operation

Representatives: A head representative and an alternate from the following 16 institutions:
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Culture

Ministry of Public Education

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Public Security

Ministry of the Presidency

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports

Office of the Attorney General

Supreme Court of Justice (Judicial Branch)

Legislative Assembly (Legislative Branch)

Ombudsman (Defensoría de los Habitantes)

University of Costa Rica

National University

National Council of Rectors

Red Cross of Costa Rica

The Lawyers’ Bar Association of Costa Rica

Presidency: Carmen Claramunt Garro,
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Culture

Executive Secretariat: Eugenia María Gutiérrez Ruiz, Ministry of Foreign Relations and Culture

Mandate and activities

To advise the Executive Branch on issues related to the adoption, application and dissemination of International Humanitarian Law.
To propose recommendations to the Executive Branch on the measures that should be taken to enforce international legal provisions that are in force related to international humanitarian law.
To suggest to the Executive Branch draft laws and regulations that allow Costa Rica to comply with its international obligations with respect to International Humanitarian Law.
To promote and to support the dissemination of International Humanitarian Law in state institutions and society in general, and to take the corresponding steps towards this end.
To attend meetings, seminars and international conferences related to International Humanitarian Law, subject to the approval of the Executive Branch.
To promote and collaborate with the country’s academic authorities in the incorporation of International Humanitarian Law in study plans and the corresponding curricula content.
To suggest and promote actions that contribute to the application of and respect for International Humanitarian Law.

Dominican Republic

Structure

Comisión Nacional Permanente para la Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario

c/o Secretaría de Estado de Relaciones Exteriores
Avenida Independencia 752
Santo Domingo
Tel. +1 809 535 6280
Fax +1 809 535 6848

Date of establishment

Established: 1995
Legal basis: Presidential Decree No.131-99 of 30 March 1999
Operation: internal regulations

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces, Education, Culture, Health, Labor, Sports and Leisure, Public Prosecutor's Office, national police, legal office of the executive branch, and the Dominican Red Cross
Chairmanship: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Mandate and activities

To recommend appropriate measures for better national implementation of international humanitarian law;
to promote draft legislation and regulations for the application of humanitarian law treaties;
to disseminate this body of law among State authorities;
to promote the inclusion of this body of law in official teaching programmers.

El Salvador

Structure

Comité Interinstitucional de Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CIDIH-ES)

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Edificio 3, 2da. Planta
Centro de Gobierno
San Salvador  Tel. +503 22 24 447

Date of establishment

Established:1997
Legal basis: Presidential Decree No. 118 of 4 November 1997
Operation: internal regulations

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Interior, Public Security, Justice, Education, Defense, Health, Treasury, Public Prosecutor's Office, Procurator for the Defense of Human Rights, and Salvadorian Red Cross Society
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Foreign Affairs  

Mandate and activities

To advise the government on measures to be adopted in order to implement, apply, and disseminate international humanitarian law at the national level.

Guatemala

Structure

Comisión Guatemalteca para la Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario (COGUADIH)

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
2 Avenida Reforma 4-47,
Zona 10
Cuidad Guatemala
Tel. +502 331-9610 Fax +502 331-7938

Date of establishment

Established: 1999
Legal basis: Government Agreement No. 948-99 of 28 December 1999

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Interior, Education, Defense, Health, Presidential Commission for Human Rights(COPREDEH), Secretariat for Peace, judiciary, Congress, Public Prosecutor's Office, Human Rights Procurator, Bar Association, and Guatemalan Red Cross
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Mandate and activities

To recommend measures for adoption by the government to ensure implementation of international humanitarian law;
in accordance with this aim, to submit draft legislation and regulations to the President of the Republic for consideration;
to spread knowledge of international humanitarian law within State institutions and among the general public;
to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Committee's willingness to represent Guatemala at international for a dealing with this body of law;
to suggest other activities designed to promote respect for humanitarian law.

Jamaica

Structure

Ad-hoc inter ministerial committee created on the initiative of national Red Cross Society in 1996.

Date of establishment

Composition and operation

Mandate and activities

Foster the implementation of international humanitarian law.

Comisión Nacional para la Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Apartado postal No. 127
Managua
Tel. +505 266 6512
Fax +505 266 6512

Date of establishment

Established: 1999
Legal basis: Presidential Decree No. 54-99 of 23 April 1999

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Education, Health, Justice, President's Office, commissions of the National Assembly, Supreme Court, Nicaraguan Red Cross, and academic circles
Chairmanship: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Mandate and activities

To recommend measures for adoption by the government to ensure implementation of international humanitarian law;
in accordance with this aim, to submit draft legislation and regulations to the President of the Republic for consideration;
to spread knowledge of international humanitarian law within State institutions and among the general public;
to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Committee's willingness to represent Guatemala at international for a dealing with this body of law;
to suggest other activities designed to promote respect for humanitarian law. 

Comisión Nacional Permanente para la Aplicación del Derecho InternacionalHumanitario (CPDIH)

c/o Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Altos del Cerro Ancón
Edificio 95
Ciudad de Panamà
Tel. +507 211 4296
Fax +507 211 4296

Date of establishment

Established:1997
Legal basis: Executive Decree No. 154 of 25 August 1997, amended by Executive Decree No.165 of 19 August 1999
Operation: Resolutions No. 001-98 and No. 001-00 (internal regulations)

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior, Education, President's Office, Labor, Legislative Assembly, police, Civil defense, academic circles, and Red Cross Society of Panama
Chairmanship and Secretariat: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mandate and activities

To prepare a list of national legislation implementing international humanitarian law, to make recommendations and propose draft laws to the Executive to make effective the norms contained in that body of law;
to disseminate international humanitarian law in institutions of the State and of the general public;
to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in organizing meetings with the ICRC;
to promote the incorporation of humanitarian law into university and school programs and cooperate in the development of such programs;
to represent Panama in international conferences and meetings dealing with topics relating to international humanitarian law.

Comisión Interministerial de Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario

c/o Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Edificio del Ministerio de Defensa
Mcal. López esquina Vicepres. Sánchez
Asuncion

Date of establishment

Established: 1995
Legal basis: Presidential Decree No. 8802 of 12 May 1995; reorganization by Presidential Decree No. 15926 of 28 December 2001

Composition and operation

Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, Justice and Employment
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Defense

Mandate and activities

To consult with the public and private institutions concerned and make recommendations to the authorities on means of implementing, applying, and disseminating international humanitarian law..

Comisíon Nacional de Estudio y Aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CONADIH)

c/o Ministerio de Justicia
Scipión Llona 350
Miraflores
Lima
Fax +511 441 05 47

Date of establishment

Established: 2001
Legal basis: Resolution (Resolución Suprema) No. 234-2001-JUS of 1 June 2001
Operation: Ministerial Resolution No. 240-2001-JUS of 23 July 2001 (regulations of procedure and operation)

Composition and operation

Representatives: Justice, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defense, and academic circles
Chairmanship and secretariat: Ministry of Justice

Mandate and activities

To carry out studies and make recommendations on implementation of international humanitarian law;
to contribute to the monitoring of the implementation of this body of law;
to help spread knowledge of this body of law. 

Inter-Ministerial Committee on International Humanitarian Law

c/o Ministry of Enterprise Development and Foreign Affairs
1 Q1 Queen's Park West
Puerto de España
Tel. +1 868 623 4116
Fax +1 868 624 4220