Geneva Call has been engaging armed non-State actors (ANSAs) towards compliance with international humanitarian norms since more than a decade. Significant progress has been made since then, with about 60 ANSAs having committed to prohibit the use of antipersonnel (AP) mines, to protect chiidren from the effects of armed conflict and/or to ensure the prohibition of sexual violence in armed conflict. In the majority of armed conflicts around the world, international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights are being violated daily, both by the armed forces of governments and by ANSAs, causing suffering to the civilian population, while the space for engagement with ANSAs is increasingly restricted. Building on previous years, the engagement of Geneva Call on the protection of chiidren and the prohibition of sexual violence has expanded significantly during the last years. The same is true for activities generally related to the respect of humanitarian norms and the respective advocacy efforts. During 2014, Geneva Call will, among other priorities, evaluate the possibility of developing a deed of commitment on broad humanitarian norms. The Third Meeting of Signatories in November 2014 will offer an opportunity to discuss this and other issues.
