Geneva Call - Engaging Non State Actors

Geneva Call is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to engaging armed non-State actors (NSAs) to respect and to adhere to humanitarian norms, starting with the ban on anti-personnel (AP) mines. In 2009, Geneva Call is expanding its operations to include the issues of women and children in armed conflict, with the aim of engaging NSAs on issues such as child recruitment and sexual violence.

Geneva Call is committed to the universal application of the principles of international humanitarian law and conducts its activities based on the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence.

Geneva Call provides an innovative mechanism for NSAs, who do not participate in drafting treaties and thus may not feel bound by their obligations to express adherence to the norms embodied in the 1997 anti-personnel mine ban treaty (MBT) through their signature to the "Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action" [PDF File]. The Government of the Republic and Canton of Geneva serves as the guardian of these Deeds.

Under the Deed of Commitment, NSA signatories commit themselves:

• To a total prohibition on the use, production, acquisition, transfer and stockpiling of AP mines and other victim-activated explosive devices, under any circumstances.

• To undertake, to cooperate in, or to facilitate, programs to destroy stockpiles, clear mines, provide assistance to victims and promote awareness.

• To allow and to cooperate in the monitoring and verification of their commitments by Geneva Call.

• To issue the necessary orders to commanders and to the rank and file for the implementation and enforcement of their commitments.

• To treat their commitment as one step or part of a broader commitment in principle to the ideal of humanitarian norms.

Thirty-nine NSAs in Burma, Burundi, India, Iran, Iraq, the Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Western Sahara have agreed to ban AP mines through this mechanism. The ultimate indicator of progress however, is not the number of Deeds signed but an effective ban and the practice of humanitarian mine action. Geneva Call is pledged to promote the implementation of humanitarian mine action programmes in mine-affected areas under NSA control, to assist signatory groups to fulfil their obligations under the Deed of Commitment and to monitor compliance.