Justice For All Condemns Switzerland’s Failure to Uphold Its Role as Neutral Custodian of the Geneva Conventions

Justice For All, a faith-based human rights organization, strongly condemns Switzerland’s decision to cancel the Conference of High Contracting Parties (HCP) to the Geneva Conventions, which was mandated by a 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution. This conference was intended to address Israel’s grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). These violations include Israel’s illegal occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and its ongoing genocide in Gaza. Switzerland’s failure to fulfill its responsibility as the depositary state (neutral custodian) of the Geneva Conventions represents a profound betrayal of international law and the victims of these atrocities.

Switzerland’s cancellation of the conference, citing “profound differences” and “lack of consensus” among participating states, is a clear capitulation to political pressure and a dereliction of its duty to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law. By prioritizing political expediency over its legal obligations, Switzerland has abandoned its role as a neutral guardian of the Geneva Conventions.

Justice For All calls on Switzerland to:

1. Reschedule immediately the Conference of High Contracting Parties and ensure it takes place within the timeline mandated by the UNGA resolution.
2. Conduct an inclusive and transparent drafting process for the conference declaration, involving all stakeholders, including Palestinian civil society and human rights organizations.
3. Uphold its duty as the depositary state by ensuring the conference addresses the enforcement of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the OPT, including measures to end Israel’s illegal occupation and hold perpetrators of violations accountable.

A Betrayal of International Law and Human Rights
The Fourth Geneva Convention was established to protect civilians during times of war, yet Switzerland’s actions have undermined this fundamental principle. By canceling the conference, Switzerland has effectively shielded Israel from accountability for its relentless grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and the ongoing genocide.

As Craig Mokhiber, former U.N. human rights official, noted, Switzerland’s decision to water down the conference declaration and then cancel the event altogether constitutes “a clear act of politicization, a breach of neutrality, an abdication of its duties as depositary, and a clear effort to sabotage the process.” This failure is particularly egregious given the overwhelming global support for the conference, with 124 U.N. member states voting in favor of the resolution.

A Call for Moral Courage and Accountability
Justice For All emphasizes that Switzerland’s actions are not only a betrayal of its role as the depositary state but also a failure of moral courage. We echo the concerns raised by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which criticized the draft declaration for failing to fulfill the agreed mandate and for being “not commensurate with the gravity of the situation.”

Switzerland’s decision to cancel the conference under pressure from Israel and its allies, including the United States, demonstrates a chilling indifference to the plight of Palestinians and a willingness to sacrifice international law for political gain. This is unacceptable for a nation that prides itself on neutrality and a humanitarian tradition.

Justice For All urges Switzerland to rectify this failure by rescheduling the conference and ensuring it delivers meaningful outcomes for the protection of civilians in Palestine. The international community must hold Switzerland accountable for its actions and demand that it fulfills its responsibilities as the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Hena Zuberi, Director of Advocacy, Justice For All

hena@justiceforall.org

202-922-JUST