Geneva Call

Geneva Call is a Swiss humanitarian non-governmental organization headquartered in Geneva. Its work focuses on armed non-State actors, including organized groups that are parties to armed conflicts but cannot formally become parties to many international treaties. The organization seeks to reduce civilian harm by engaging such groups in dialogue, providing international humanitarian law training, encouraging internal rules and codes of conduct, and monitoring voluntary commitments. The organization emerged from concerns that the 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines imposed obligations primarily on states and did not provide a practical mechanism for armed non-State actors to make comparable commitments. Geneva Call was established in 1998 and was publicly launched in March 2000 at a conference on engaging non-State actors in a landmine ban. Its central innovation was the Deed of Commitment, a public undertaking through which an armed group can pledge to comply with selected humanitarian norms even though it is not able to accede to the relevant treaty. Its first Deed of Commitment addressed a total ban on anti-personnel mines and cooperation in mine action. The organization later expanded into child protection, conflict-related sexual violence, gender discrimination, cultural heritage, displacement, health-care protection, starvation prevention and broader implementation of international humanitarian law. The thematic expansion reflects both the changing pattern of armed conflict and requests or openings identified in dialogue with armed groups. Geneva Call's child-protection work addresses the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, the release or safe disassociation of children from armed forces, and protection from the effects of military operations. Its gender-related work seeks to prohibit sexual violence, prevent and punish abuses, provide support and confidentiality for survivors, reduce discriminatory practices, and improve women's participation in decision-making. Its cultural-heritage work, begun in 2015, has included engagement and research concerning conflicts in Iraq, Mali, Syria and Myanmar. The organization began formal engagement on displacement and medical care in 2018. That year it also launched a Deed of Commitment on the protection of health care in armed conflict. From 2021, Geneva Call broadened its agenda to preventing starvation and addressing conflict-related food insecurity, emphasizing that better observance of humanitarian law can reduce restrictions on food systems, livelihoods and humanitarian access. Geneva Call reports having engaged more than 100 armed non-State actors since 2000 and having obtained dozens of Deed of Commitment signatures across its thematic programs. Its approach combines confidential dialogue, public commitments, training, technical advice and follow-up. Supporters have described the Deed of Commitment as an innovative way to encourage armed groups to assume responsibility for humanitarian norms. At the same time, the organization operates in politically sensitive environments and has faced criticism from states that object to direct engagement with groups they regard as terrorist or illegitimate. Geneva Call remains an active humanitarian organization rather than a conventional consumer or commercial brand.

Geneva Call was created in 1998 in response to a structural gap in the international landmine regime. The Ottawa Treaty, signed in 1997, prohibited anti-personnel mines for states parties, but armed non-State actors could not normally join the treaty-making process or become treaty parties. Members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines therefore sought a mechanism through which armed groups could make meaningful public commitments of their own. The organization took its practical shape in March 2000, when the Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines convened a conference entitled Engaging Non-State Actors in a Landmine Ban. The meeting helped establish methods for dialogue with armed groups and is generally treated as Geneva Call's formal public launch. Its first Deed of Commitment asked armed non-State actors to accept a comprehensive ban on anti-personnel mines and to cooperate with mine clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance and mine-risk education. In 2003, the mechanism was included in United Nations mine-action guidance concerning ceasefire and peace agreements. Although landmines remained a central concern, Geneva Call's founding mandate allowed work on broader humanitarian norms. The organization began addressing children affected by armed conflict in the early 2000s and launched a child-protection Deed of Commitment in 2010. A third instrument, launched in 2012, addressed sexual violence and gender discrimination. These programs combined direct engagement with armed groups, training, advocacy and support for implementation inside group structures. From 2015, Geneva Call added protection of cultural heritage in conflicts involving armed non-State actors. It organized activities in several conflict settings and published research examining the destruction and safeguarding of heritage in Iraq, Mali and Syria. Displacement had been part of the organization's discussions and events since 2011, but formal engagement on displacement began in 2018. The same year, Geneva Call expanded its work on attacks affecting health-care facilities and personnel and introduced a Deed of Commitment dedicated to protecting medical care in armed conflict. In 2021, the organization added prevention of starvation and conflict-related food insecurity as a further thematic priority. Its broader humanitarian-law program supports training and technical advice on incorporating international humanitarian law into internal policies, military instructions, codes of conduct and other regulations. This work is important because armed non-State actors are often excluded from formal treaty negotiations, may lack knowledge of applicable rules, and nevertheless exercise effective control over civilian populations and territory. The Deed of Commitment is intended to create ownership and accountability. A signatory publicly accepts a defined set of norms and can be engaged on implementation and compliance. Geneva Call reports that it has worked with more than 100 armed non-State actors since 2000 and that dozens of groups have signed one or more of its instruments. Reported signature totals in the available reference material include 54 for the anti-personnel mine instrument, 31 for child protection, 25 for sexual violence and gender discrimination, and four for health-care protection. The organization has described the overall compliance record as generally positive, while acknowledging at least one case in which conclusive compliance concerns arose. Geneva Call has received recognition from humanitarian and international-policy figures. Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cited the Deed of Commitment as an example of a successful special commitment involving non-State actors. A 2006 forum on armed groups and children in conflict described the mechanism as an innovative way to encourage unilateral adherence to humanitarian norms. The organization's work has also generated controversy because dialogue with armed groups can be interpreted by governments as political recognition or support. The dispute with Turkey over engagement with the Kurdistan Workers' Party illustrates the diplomatic and operational risks inherent in Geneva Call's model. Despite these tensions, the organization continues to present itself as an independent humanitarian actor focused on practical civilian protection rather than political mediation or commercial activity.

• 2021

  Starvation-prevention Deed launched

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  The organization added prevention of starvation and conflict-related food insecurity to its formal commitment framework.

• 2018

  Health-care and displacement work expanded

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  Geneva Call formally broadened its work on displacement and launched a Deed of Commitment for protection of health care in armed conflict.

• 2015

  Cultural-heritage program begins

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began engaging armed non-State actors on protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict.

• 2012

  Gender and sexual-violence Deed launched

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  A third Deed of Commitment addressed sexual violence and gender discrimination in armed conflict.

• 2010

  Child-protection Deed launched

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  Geneva Call introduced a commitment addressing child recruitment, use in hostilities and protection from conflict effects.

• 2003

  Deed recognized in UN mine-action guidance

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  The anti-personnel mine Deed of Commitment was included in United Nations mine-action guidelines for ceasefire and peace agreements.

• 2000

  Public launch and first Deed of Commitment

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  A Swiss conference on engaging non-State actors in a landmine ban provided the basis for Geneva Call's public launch and its first anti-personnel mine Deed of Commitment.

• 1998

  Organization established

  [1]Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org

  Geneva Call was created to engage armed non-State actors on humanitarian norms, initially with a focus on anti-personnel mines.

An independent humanitarian intermediary specializing in dialogue with armed non-State actors and practical implementation of international humanitarian law.

• Humanitarian commitment mechanism · 2000

  Deed of Commitment on Anti-Personnel Mines

  A voluntary public undertaking through which armed non-State actors commit to prohibit the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines and to cooperate with mine clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance and mine-risk education.

• Child-protection program · 2010

  Deed of Commitment for the Protection of Children

  This instrument addresses the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, requires efforts to release or disassociate children safely, and calls for protection and assistance for children affected by military operations.

• Gender-protection program · 2012

  Deed of Commitment on Sexual Violence and Gender Discrimination

  The commitment seeks to prohibit sexual violence, prevent and sanction abuses, support survivors, protect confidentiality, eliminate discriminatory practices and increase women's participation in decision-making.

• Research and humanitarian program · 2015

  Cultural heritage protection

  Geneva Call works with armed non-State actors on reducing damage to cultural heritage in war and has undertaken activities and research concerning conflicts in Iraq, Mali, Syria and Myanmar.

• Health-care protection program · 2018

  Deed of Commitment for the Protection of Health Care

  This commitment addresses protection of medical facilities, personnel and services in armed conflict and is supported by dialogue, training and implementation advice for armed non-State actors.

• Food-security and humanitarian program · 2021

  Deed of Commitment on Prevention of Starvation

  The fifth Deed of Commitment focuses on preventing starvation and addressing conflict-related food insecurity by encouraging compliance with humanitarian rules affecting food systems, livelihoods and civilian access to assistance.

• Dispute with Turkey over engagement with the Kurdistan Workers' Party

  Turkey criticized Geneva Call for signing a Deed of Commitment with the Kurdistan Workers' Party without Turkish government consent and characterized the engagement as inappropriate. Geneva Call said Turkey had been informed. Turkey subsequently refused access for verification missions involving the group. The episode illustrates the controversy surrounding humanitarian dialogue with armed actors regarded by states as terrorist organizations.

  Source

Read more

• 2021Preventing starvation and food insecurity

  Global

  The organization added conflict-related hunger and food insecurity to its humanitarian-law engagement agenda.

  Outcome. A fifth Deed of Commitment was developed to address prevention of starvation and conflict-related food insecurity.

  Source
• 2018Protection of health care

  Global

  Geneva Call began formal engagement on attacks and interference affecting health-care facilities, personnel and services.

  Outcome. A dedicated Deed of Commitment was launched; the organization reports four signatories in the available reference material.

  Source
• 2015Culture under fire

  Iraq · Mali · Syria · Myanmar

  The cultural-heritage program examined how armed non-State actors can reduce deliberate or incidental damage to cultural sites and objects.

  Outcome. The organization published research on cultural heritage protection in wartime, including case studies of Iraq, Mali and Syria.

  Source
• 2012Stop sexual violence and gender discrimination

  Global

  Geneva Call worked with armed groups to prohibit sexual violence, support survivors and eliminate discriminatory policies and practices.

  Outcome. The organization reports 25 signatories to the relevant Deed of Commitment.

  Source
• 2010Children in armed conflict

  Global

  The campaign promoted an end to child recruitment and use in hostilities and encouraged armed groups to protect children affected by military operations.

  Outcome. The organization reports 31 signatories to its child-protection Deed of Commitment.

  Source
• 2000Landmine ban engagement

  Global

  Geneva Call engaged armed non-State actors to adopt a total ban on anti-personnel mines and cooperate with mine-action organizations.

  Outcome. The organization reports that 54 armed non-State actors have signed the relevant Deed of Commitment.

  Source

• 2021

  Add starvation and food insecurity preventionStrategy

  Background

  Research and field experience indicated that armed conflict can disrupt food systems, livelihoods and access to humanitarian assistance.

  Action taken

  Geneva Call developed a Deed of Commitment addressing prevention of starvation and conflict-related food insecurity.

  Aftermath

  Food security and prevention of starvation became an additional formal area of humanitarian-law engagement.

  Source

• 2018

  Broaden programming to displacement and medical careStrategy

  Background

  Conflict-related displacement and attacks affecting health care were identified as significant civilian-protection concerns.

  Action taken

  Geneva Call began formal engagement on displacement and introduced a health-care protection Deed of Commitment.

  Aftermath

  The organization expanded beyond its original landmine and child-protection focus.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand into child protectionStrategy

  Background

  Geneva Call had already begun discussing child-soldier issues with relevant humanitarian specialists and armed groups.

  Action taken

  It launched a Deed of Commitment focused on preventing child recruitment and use and protecting children in conflict.

  Aftermath

  Child protection became one of the organization's principal thematic programs.

  Source

• 2000

  Launch the anti-personnel mine Deed of CommitmentProduct launch

  Background

  Armed non-State actors generally could not join the Ottawa Treaty, despite often operating in areas affected by mines.

  Action taken

  Geneva Call introduced a public voluntary commitment covering a total ban on anti-personnel mines and cooperation in mine action.

  Aftermath

  The mechanism became the foundation of the organization's engagement model and was later referenced in UN mine-action guidance.

  Source

• 1998

  Create a humanitarian engagement mechanism for armed non-State actorsStrategy

  Background

  The Ottawa Treaty created strong anti-personnel mine obligations for states but did not offer armed non-State actors a comparable route to make formal commitments.

  Action taken

  Geneva Call was established to engage these actors directly and encourage voluntary adherence to humanitarian norms.

  Aftermath

  The organization developed the Deed of Commitment model and later applied it to several civilian-protection themes.

  Source

1. 1Geneva Callen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Geneva Call official websitegenevacall.org