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GEORGIA/ABKHAZIA: NEW OUTBREAK OF FIGHTING: Tens of thousands of people are reported to be fleeing towards Zugdidi, in western Georgia, to escape the violent fighting that broke out on 20 May between Abkhaz forces and Georgian militias southwest of Gali, in the UN security zone bordering the cease-fire line.
ST PETERSBURG: COMPETITION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW: As part of its programme to promote international humanitarian law among universities in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the ICRC held the second De Martens Competition in St Petersburg from 19 to 23 May.
INDIA: MODEL SYLLABUS FOR HUMANITARIAN LAW COURSE: Meeting in New Delhi on 23 and 24 May 1998 at the initiative of the ICRC regional delegation for South Asia and the Association of Indian Universities, experts in the fields of legal training and international law agreed on a model syllabus for the new course on human rights and humanitarian law being introduced into law schools throughout India.
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GEORGIA/ABKHAZIA NEW OUTBREAK OF FIGHTING
Tens of thousands of people are reported to be fleeing towards Zugdidi, in western Georgia, to escape the violent fighting that broke out on 20 May between Abkhaz forces and Georgian militias southwest of Gali, in the UN security zone bordering the cease-fire line. This is the first time since the cease-fire was signed in May 1994 that clashes have occurred on such a scale.
Two ICRC teams were rushed to the area to deliver emergency medical supplies to hospitals treating the war-wounded. The hospitals in Ochamchira and Gali, in Abkhazia, have taken in some 30 wounded since the fighting started, and the Respublika hospital in Zugdidi has admitted a total of 15, seven of whom arrived on 26 May.
The ICRC has been working in the region since 1992. It is currently directing most of its assistance to Abkhazia, where it is providing aid to 50,000 people and giving regular support to five hospitals. For four years Abkhazia has been suffering the effects of a blockade that has caused severe shortages of food and medicines. In Zugdidi, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the ICRC is organizing distributions of food and blankets for the newly displaced.
Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 41 22 730 2307
ST PETERSBURG COMPETITION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
As part of its programme to promote international humanitarian law among universities in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the ICRC held the second De Martens Competition in St Petersburg from 19 to 23 May. Teams of three students each, representing 13 law faculties from 11 CIS countries, strove to top each other's knowledge of humanitarian law in a series of role-playing exercises relating to an imaginary armed conflict. The University of St Petersburg, which won the competition in 1997, was closely involved in organizing the event.
In addition, 84 teachers connected with the ICRC's dissemination programme for secondary schools in the Russian Federation took part in a different competition, aimed at motivating teachers to use ICRC textbooks and manuals in their classes. The competitors had to devise courses using literature and teaching material on humanitarian law. The three winners were awarded the title "teachers of the year".
The ICRC was also invited to participate in a seminar held in Volgograd over the last few days by the Russian Federation Ministry of Home Affairs, the first time it had received such an invitation. The objective was to familiarize some 40 instructors from the main Russian police academies and those of four CIS countries (Belarus, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) with the rules of humanitarian and human rights law. The ICRC awarded bursaries to nine participants to enable them to attend the seminar.
Alongside its work on behalf of conflict victims in the region, the ICRC has been conducting a dialogue since 1992 with all the CIS countries to remind them of their obligations as signatories to the Geneva Conventions. In order to raise awareness of humanitarian law, it has launched a series of programmes aimed at various target audiences -- the army, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, universities, schools and the media.
Further information: Victoria Catliff, ICRC Moscow, tel. ++7502 220 2616
INDIA MODEL SYLLABUS FOR HUMANITARIAN LAW COURSE
Meeting in New Delhi on 23 and 24 May 1998 at the initiative of the ICRC regional delegation for South Asia and the Association of Indian Universities, experts in the fields of legal training and international law agreed on a model syllabus for the new course on human rights and humanitarian law being introduced into law schools throughout India.
The Bar Council of India, which lays down standards for all law schools in the country, has made this course compulsory from the forthcoming academic year onwards. The model syllabus includes a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law and will be proposed by the Association of Indian Universities to deans of law faculties, heads of law schools and all universities offering advanced courses in law. This step has given fresh impetus to ICRC efforts to promote international humanitarian law among academic circles in India.
Further information: Savita Varde-Naqvi, ICRC New Delhi, tel. ++911 462 23 38
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Update No 98/01 on ICRC activities in Indonesia, dated 20.05.98
For any information you may need on the weekend of 30-31 May or on Monday 1 June 1998 (national holiday) please call the press officer on duty Michael Kleiner, on (mobile) 41 79 202 42 00