The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) contributes to the development and implementation of instruments of international law that address the problem of explosive hazards through technical, logistical and administrative support.

Expert input to the development and implementation of IHL

The GICHD provides expert input to facilitate informed discussions and negotiations during formal and informal meetings of relevant instruments of humanitarian disarmament (Meetings of States Parties, Review Conferences, Intersessional Meetings, Meetings of Experts, etc.).

For example, the Centre assists Belgium in revising the reporting templates of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and drafting a Guide to reporting under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). To help facilitate discussions on Mines other than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPM) in the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), the GICHD published a short Issue Brief in March 2012. The GICHD also regularly supports the Coordinators under CCW Amended Protocol II on Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices and Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War with expertise on many aspects of mine action.

In its advisory role, the GICHD assists the Governments of affected States to comply with treaty obligations in the most efficient, effective and sustainable way. The scope of GICHD activities covers:

  • issues of laws and standards
  • strategic management of national mine action programmes
  • quality management and information management
  • methods and techniques of land release (survey and clearance)
  • stockpile destruction.

Hosting and supporting of treaty mechanisms

Hosting and supporting of ISUs

The APMBC Implementation Support Unit (ISU-APMBC) was established in 2001. The ISU-APMBC derives its mandate from the State Parties and is hosted by the GICHD. The GICHD provides administrative and logistical support to the ISU-APMBC. This includes:

  • office space
  • acquisition of IT hardware and software and network maintenance
  • telecommunications
  • accounting (including audit costs)
  • archive and management of contracts and agreements
  • publication services and website development
  • travel services
  • human resources management.

At the Second Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the CCM in 2011, the President of the Convention was mandated to negotiate and conclude an agreement between the States Parties and the GICHD on the hosting of an Implementation Support Unit.

As part of its financial support services, the GICHD is administering several Trust Funds such as the ISU-APMBC Voluntary Trust Fund and the Sponsorship Programmes Trust Funds of the APMBC, CCW and CCM. The Trust Funds are audited by an independent auditor.

Conference management and sponsorship programmes

Each year, the GICHD provides administrative and logistical support to the APMBC and CCM Intersessional Work Programmes. Such support is manifold and consists of, but is not limited to:

  • conference management (registration and helpdesk services)
  • rent of conference rooms
  • interpretation
  • website registrations
  • publications
  • IT support.

In addition, the GICHD administers the Sponsorship Programmes of the APMBC, the CCW and  CCM-Intersessionals, including invitation, travel arrangements, accommodation and other assistance to delegates. The Sponsorship Programmes set up by the State Parties to the APMBC, CCM and CCW are designed to strengthen the implementation of these instruments, promote universalization and ensure widespread participation in related meetings. They enable participation from State Parties with limited resources.