Key Institutional and Statutory Features of the Confederation

The Confederation of Humanitarian Nations (CNU) is an international confederal structure established in 2020 through the cooperation of organizations, communities, self-determined peoples and collective legal entities committed to the protection of human dignity, fundamental rights, peaceful cooperation and the self-determination of peoples.

Under its Statute, the CNU defines itself as a Hybrid Intergovernmental Organization, characterized by a confederal model that brings together international, public, private, institutional and community actors within a common institutional framework.

The CNU exercises representative, humanitarian and institutional functions on behalf of its members in accordance with its Statute, the mandates entrusted to its organs and representatives, applicable agreements, and the domestic and international law relevant to each activity.

Its representative function does not imply the exercise of sovereign powers belonging to States, nor does it replace the competences of national authorities, international organizations, courts or other competent institutions.

Institutional Nature and International Cooperation

The CNU was created as a permanent framework for cooperation among entities and communities sharing humanitarian objectives while maintaining their respective legal identities and autonomy.

Its activities are based on the principles of:

  • human dignity;
  • humanity;
  • neutrality;
  • impartiality;
  • independence;
  • peaceful cooperation;
  • solidarity;
  • subsidiarity;
  • non-discrimination;
  • self-determination of peoples in accordance with international law;
  • environmental and intergenerational responsibility.

The Confederation operates through its institutional organs, confederated members, territorial missions, humanitarian programmes and representative structures.

Its activities may include humanitarian cooperation, human-rights promotion and documentation, education, social development, environmental protection, institutional dialogue, mediation and the development of international partnerships.

International Legal References

The CNU takes as fundamental normative and interpretative references the principal international instruments concerning human rights, humanitarian protection and peaceful international cooperation, including:

  • the Charter of the United Nations;
  • the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
  • the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
  • the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
  • the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, where relevant and applicable;
  • the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;
  • the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
  • the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
  • the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, where applicable;
  • other relevant international and regional instruments.

The principles contained in these instruments are incorporated, where appropriate, into the internal normative framework of the Confederation and guide its institutional, humanitarian and representative activities.

Reference to an international treaty or instrument does not in itself imply that the CNU is a Contracting Party to that instrument, nor does it create privileges, immunities or powers beyond those recognized by applicable law, agreements or the competent authorities.

Representation and International Relations

In accordance with its Statute, the CNU may represent its confederated members within the limits of the mandates conferred upon it and may establish institutional relations and cooperation with States, public authorities, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, civil-society organizations and other relevant actors.

Such representation is exercised through dialogue, cooperation, documentation, advocacy, humanitarian initiatives, memoranda of understanding and other instruments compatible with applicable law.

Where questions concerning the self-determination of peoples arise, the CNU acts through peaceful, documentary, humanitarian and diplomatic means and in accordance with the relevant principles and instruments of international law.

The CNU does not claim jurisdiction over States or international institutions and does not exercise coercive authority outside its internal confederal framework.

Humanitarian Embassies and Territorial Missions

Under its Statute, the CNU may establish territorial missions and representative structures referred to internally as Humanitarian Embassies.

These structures promote humanitarian cooperation, institutional dialogue, human rights, cultural relations and projects of common interest within their territories of activity.

Humanitarian Embassies and CNU Missions operate in accordance with the domestic law of the State concerned and with any agreements, authorizations or forms of recognition granted by the competent authorities.

The designation “Humanitarian Embassy” is an institutional designation within the CNU system and does not, by itself, confer the status of a diplomatic mission under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

CNU representatives do not automatically enjoy diplomatic privileges or immunities. Any status, privilege, immunity, accreditation or special protection may arise only where expressly provided by applicable international law, domestic law or an agreement with the competent State or authority.

Headquarters and Institutional Presence

The CNU maintains its operational institutional headquarters in Prato, Italy, together with missions, delegations and representative structures operating in different countries.

The presence of a CNU office, mission or representative in a State does not imply extraterritorial status.

All territorial structures operate subject to applicable domestic law and to the authorizations, agreements or institutional arrangements required in the respective jurisdiction.

Internal Legal Order

The CNU is governed by its Statute, its Code of Competences, its Ethical and Diplomatic Code, its regulations, resolutions and other acts lawfully adopted by its competent organs.

Within the Confederation, these instruments regulate the rights and duties of members, the competences of the institutional organs, internal representation, disciplinary procedures, humanitarian activities and the operation of territorial structures.

The binding effect of such rules is internal to the Confederation and to those entities or persons that have accepted them, without prejudice to applicable national and international law.

Commitment to International Legality

The Confederation conducts its activities according to the principles of legality, transparency, accountability, peaceful cooperation and respect for the jurisdiction and competences of States and international institutions.

The CNU does not claim automatic extraterritoriality, sovereign authority, diplomatic status or immunity.

Its international role develops through cooperation, agreements, institutional relations, humanitarian action, representative mandates and the progressive recognition of its functions by the public and private actors with which it interacts.

The CNU is established for an unlimited duration and continues to develop its institutional framework in accordance with its Statute and the principles of international cooperation.

view the Statute