Competences of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission: the Case of the Kunduz Hospital Bombing

Abstract

The article analyzes the legal possibility of involving the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to investigate the US Air Force’s attack on the Trauma Centre of the international humanitarian organization «Doctors without Borders» in Kunduz (Afghanistan). The author concludes that there is no such possibility for the Commission in its current configuration, because the fulfillment of a number of conditions is required. At least one of the parties (the United States or Afghanistan) should file a request for an investigation, and the other-to express its consent. Parties should cover all expenses for investigation. The Commission’s final report will remain confidential, unless the parties request its publication. Given the fact that as such a dispute between the US and Afghanistan is absent, the task of the Commission in connection with the incident in Kunduz is completely missing.

Keywords

• кундуз
• врачи без границ
• международная гуманитарная комиссия по установлению фактов
• международное расследование
• международное гуманитарное право
• kunduz
• doctors without borders
• the international humanitarian fact-finding commission
• international inquiry
• international humanitarian law