Humanitarian law explained to the armed forces

Some 5,000 Guinea-Bissau soldiers will have attended lectures on international humanitarian law by the end of the year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said. The ICRC, in cooperation with the general staff of the country’s armed forces, last month organised such courses for 370 officers and men from two battalions in the south of the country. The ICRC said it launched the programme to familiarise the military with the history and humanitarian activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Topics within the lectures include the mandate of the ICRC and its activities throughout the world, in particular Guinea-Bissau. They also include the basic rules of international humanitarian law in the field, explained by a Guinea-Bissau army staff officer trained at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy. A “soldier’s handbook” containing the essentials of humanitarian law and basic principles of first aid is given to each participant, the ICRC said.