Le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge a réaffirmé sa politique de «porte ouverte» pour les chercheurs qui s'intéressent au rôle de l'institution pendant et après la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les médias ayant à nouveau fait état d'informations selon lesquelles le criminel de guerre nazi Josef Mengele, a amené par tromperie le CICR à lui délivrer un document de voyage.

In December 1995 the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent endorsed the recommendations drawn up by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts for the Protection for War Victims which had met, at the invitation of the Swiss government, on 23–27 January 1995 in Geneva. Recommendation II of this Group proposed that:

“the ICRC be invited to prepare, with the assistance of experts in IHL [international humanitarian law] representing various geographical regions and different legal systems, and in consultation with experts from governments and international organisations, a report on customary rules of IHL applicable in international and non-international armed conflicts, and to circulate the report to States and competent international bodies.”

As international arms transfers, particularly of small arms, have become easier, the promotion of respect for international humanitarian law has become vastly more difficult. The proliferation of weapons in the hands of new and often undisciplined individuals or groups has outpaced efforts to ensure compliance with basic rules of warfare. The result is appalling levels of wanton violence and a stream of horrific images which threaten to immunize the public and decision-makers to ongoing violations of international humanitarian law. In the absence of vigorous action to restrain the availability of military style arms and ammunition, those responsible for training combatants in the laws of armed conflict have little hope of reaching all those capable of waging war. The price to be paid is high, in terms of human suffering, social and economic disruption and the burdens of intervention when the international community decides to act.

La République du Kenya a adhéré sans faire de déclaration ni de réserve, le 23 février 1999, aux Protocoles additionnels aux Conventions de Genève du 12 août 1949 relatifs à la protection des victimes des conflits armés internationaux (Protocole I) et non internationaux (Protocole II), adoptés à Genève le 8 juin 1977.

The massive influx of weapons into already unstable regions, where they are sometimes sold for a pittance, justifies grave doubts about respect for humanitarian standards. Such proliferation sets in motion a vicious circle in which people arm themselves out of fear for their safety, thus further destabilizing the situation, which is soon governed by the law of the jungle. At that point, any and all standards are ignored. The result: tension, unrest, violence, even armed conflict, all of which is extremely detrimental to any effort to foster respect for international humanitarian law. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which monitors compliance with that law, cannot stand idly by. Its President therefore voiced the organization's concern to the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in 1995, and reminded governments of their responsibilities.

The Republic of Kenya acceded on 23 February 1999, without making any declaration or reservation, to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977.

La communauté internationale a célébr– cette année le centenaire de la Conférence internationale de la Paix qui s'était tenue à La Haye en 1899. Deux événements ont eu lieu dans cette ville en mai 1999: une réunion des États et une conférence organisée par des organisations non gouvernementales. Une autre réunion gouvernementale s'est tenue a Saint-Pétersbourg en juin 1999.

Le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'lrlande du Nord, par déclaration du 17 mai 1999, a reconnu la compétence de la Commission internationale d'établissement des faits, conformément à l'article 90 du Protocole additionnel aux Conventions de Genève du 12 août 1949 relatif à la protection des victimes des conflits armés internationaux (Protocole I).