COTE D'IVOIRE COURSES IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW FOR POLICE OFFICERS
As part of the ICRC's ongoing work to teach international humanitarian law to the forces of law and order, 15 officers from the Abidjan police have received training both in the basic provisions of international humanitarian law applicable to maintaining order and in the principles governing the work of the Red Cross. The four-day seminar (22-25 June) was conducted by five Ivorian instructors (two gendarmes and three police officers, all trained by the ICRC). Field exercises helped illustrate the elementary rules of conduct in law enforcement. A team of 15 first-aid workers from the Red Cross Society of Cote d'Ivoire also took part.
Discussions focused on various subjects including the perception of ICRC neutrality, the ICRC's real-life role as guardian of the Geneva Conventions, the protective value of the red cross emblem, the applicability of international humanitarian law in situations involving internal disturbances and, and the issue of how to ensure that those who violate humanitarian law are punished.
The ICRC also took part in a similar, half-day session attended by 28 police officer cadets from 12 French-speaking countries in Africa who are currently training at the Ecole y Vocation Regionale in Abidjan.
Further information: Christian Frutiger, ICRC Abidjan, tel. ++225 / 222 459
During the weekend of 10 - 11 July 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Francoise Derron, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 03