AllAfrica
Monday, September 02, 2013
AMISOM concluded a two week-long training on
understanding and compliance with International Humanitarian Law and
Human Rights for officers of the Somalia National Army on Friday (August
30).
The Human Rights Section of the United Nations Assistance Mission in
Somalia, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross contributed in
facilitating the training. A total of 59 officers benefitted from the
training which covered aspects particularly applicable to Somalia
including the protection of victims and civilians in armed conflicts;
the rules of the conduct of hostilities; the protection of detainees;
the protection of humanitarian and relief personnel; and acts of war
crimes in non-international armed conflicts as well as command
responsibilities.
Among the results were the adoption of a forward looking strategy and
action plan, agreement on the need for train-the-trainer courses and
the publication, in Somali, of a code of conduct for the Somalia
National Army. The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of
AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, thanked the Political Affairs
Department of the AU Commission for funding the training, the Government
of Uganda for hosting it, and the South Africa-based African Center for
the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) for logistical
support.