ICRC trains army instructors in humanitarian law

A group of 55 junior and senior Sierra Leonean army officers have completed an instructor's course on international humanitarian law, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported on Wednesday. The course, organised by the ICRC and the International Military Advisory and Training Team in Sierra Leone, was held at the army's Benguema training base, 33 km northeast of the capital Freetown. It was a fist-step in the training of trainers for the reconstituted army and participants came from various units. "The aim was to impart knowledge and skills required to instruct private soldiers and non-commissioned officers in the basics of international humanitarian law," ICRC said. Participants were instructed on the used of teaching aids such as flip charts and case studies. Drills and field training exercises, also part of course were designed to put theory into practice. Two officers were granted scholarships for advanced courses on law of armed conflict at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, Italy. On their return, the candidates are expected to draft a syllabus on the subject to be used for local training at Benguema. The course, ICRC said, was part of a weaning process aimed at reducing the role of the civil society in promoting the law of war within the Sierra Leonean army. ICRC said will it would be willing - when asked by battalions and brigades - to give ad-hoc briefings on its role as an impartial and neutral humanitarian body in situations of armed conflict.