The Copenhagen Process was launched by the Danish Government in 2007 to address a range of practical and legal challenges to States and organisations involved in international military operations, in particular related to detention. The Copenhagen Process was launched in response to a growing international recognition that there was a need to find a multilateral and durable solution to the legal questions related to the handling of detainees in international military operations.
In the past five years Denmark has hosted two international conferences and one expert seminar on the topic. The results of these meetings was the Copenhagen Process; Principles and Guidelines containing a set non-legally binding principles and guidelines on the handling of detainees in internationalised internal armed conflict and in peace operations.The Copenhagen Process; Principles and Guidelines were designed to be used as a tool in situations where detention occurs, and all UN Member States as well as international and regional organisations are invited to make use of the Principles and Guidelines as appropriate. Denmark has now started a process to introduce the Principles and Guidelines to all UN Member States through a series of meetings in relevant fora across the world. In the meantime, Member States that would be immediately interested in learning more about the Process and the Principles and Guidelines are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Department for Legal Affairs.
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Copenhagen Process Principles and Guidelines Minutes from the Copenhagen Process Conference on 18-19 October 2012
Department of International LawE-mail: jtf@um.dkTel.: +45 339220000