About twenty senior officers of the Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force, Fiji Corrections Services and non-government organisations received certificates today after undergoing a week-long training on international humanitarian law.
The inaugural training, called the Law of Armed Conflict workshop, was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
While closing the workshop at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, Director General of the Fiji Red Cross, Mr Filipe Nainoca reminded the participants of the important role played by them when deployed for duties in foreign surroundings during conflicts.
Mr Nainoca said the training has a special significance for the participants as they now understand the implications of all that is required under international humanitarian law.
“This certificate has a very special significance because it certifies that you understand international humanitarian law and not only that, in your career as military or police officers, this holds high standing internationally,” Mr Nainoca said.
“This also means that you know how to save a life or what to do in an event of an emergency. In understanding international humanitarian law, you have the capacity to be able to save lives, more often in a war.”
Mr Nainoca highlighted that for the last 150 years, there has been a constant state of conflict in different areas throughout the world.
“More than 90 per cent of conflicts happening in the world today are within a country. No longer is it between one country and another.
“As such, it increases the responsibility of peacekeepers and holders of international humanitarian law certificates to help in the protection of lives,” Mr Nainoca added.
He also called on the officers to be mindful of Fiji’s reputation internationally as peacekeepers, for instance in Lebanon.
“Fiji is well recognised and has a high reputation in peacekeeping in Lebanon. May you in knowing what you know now, go out and continue this reputation internationally that we have of being peacekeepers.”
-ENDS-