To help us fulfill our mandate, the ICRC negotiates with the authorities of the countries in which we operate a “status agreement” (also known as the “headquarters agreement”). 6 In Switzerland, where the organization was founded, the ICRC has a dual status: while it maintains its legal strength as a private association for administrative reasons directly related to the presence of its head office in Geneva, the ICRC – according to the latter`s headquarters agreement in 1994 – also has the legal status of IO in Switzerland. See also Note 8. This agreement enters into force on the day it is signed. The ICRC and the Swiss authorities cooperate at all times to facilitate the proper administration of justice, to ensure compliance with police rules and to prevent abuses in relation to the privileges and immunities provided for by this agreement. Libreville / Geneva (ICRC) – The Gabonese government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today signed an agreement formalizing the organization`s permanent presence in the country. This agreement may be terminated in writing by both parties within two years. The agreement was signed by Minister Mbarka Bouaida and ICRC President Peter Maurer. We are pleased to have obtained this agreement which officially establishes our relations with the Kingdom of Morocco,” Maurer said. “It paves the way for continued cooperation and dialogue with the authorities.” We have had very productive exchanges with the Moroccan high-level authorities and we hope that this agreement will provide a basis for joint activities that will benefit the citizens,” he added.

The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose mission is exclusively humanitarian. Since its inception in 1863, it has given birth to the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC currently operates in more than 80 countries around the world. The siege agreement ensures that the ICRC has the privileges and immunities to carry out its activities in accordance with its mandate and normal working methods. For more information, please contact:Faten M`Tir, ICRC Tunis, Tel.: `216 25 336 200Thomas Glass, ICRC Geneva, tel:41 22 730 31 49 or `41 79 244 64 05 In short, a status agreement allows us to work without our basic principles or our confidential approach. The siege agreement, which aims to determine the legal status of the Committee in Switzerland and, to that end, to regulate its relations in a siege agreement, gives the ICRC the privileges and immunities it needs to carry out its functions in accordance with its mandate and the usual working procedures around the world. 46 The ICRC`s basic principles are detailed below. Regarding the ICRC`s standard working arrangements, see “Action by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the fall of violations of International Humanitarian Law or of Other Fundamental Rules Protecting Persons in Situations of Violence,” International Review of the Red Cross, Vol. 87, No.

858, 2005, p. 393-400CrossRefGoogle Scholar; and the ICRC, The ICRC, Its Mission and Work, Geneva, March 2009, available at: www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0963.pdf. 17 At the time of the letter, the ICRC enjoyed privileges and immunities in 103 countries – through bilateral status agreements or on the basis of national legislation – and negotiated status agreements which, in 13 other countries, enjoyed status agreements and immunities (the figures are up to date until 1 April 2015).