icrc-annual-report-2013

AUTHORITIES, ARMED FORCES AND OTHER BEARERSOF WEAPONS, AND CIVIL SOCIETYDialogue with the Mauritanian authorities, weapon bearers andinfluential members of civil society focused on support for IHLand for the ICRC’s neutral, impartial and independent humanitarianaction. Amidst discussions on the ICRC’s work for detaineesand, in light of Mauritania’s signing of the Arms Trade Treaty, IHLimplementation, the authorities, with ICRC support, worked tointegrate previously ratified IHL treaties into domestic legislationand increase State officials’ knowledge of IHL. However, owing toadministrative constraints, planned activities with State officials,magistrates and the national IHL committee did not take place.Military/security forces draft a four-year plan forIHL trainingMauritania’s military and security forces, with ICRC input, jointlydrafted a four-year action plan for training army, National Guard,gendarmerie and police units in IHL and international humanrights law. As a first step, 20 officers from all four forces developedtheir capacities to teach both subjects, at four train-the-trainercourses. Military officers began drafting an IHL manual for completionin 2014. Over 90 officers and troops who were deployingto Mali were briefed on their obligations under IHL and encouragedto support Movement activities. One senior officer attendedan IHL workshop abroad (see International law and cooperation).Religious leaders grow more familiar with humanitarianissues and Movement activitiesRepresentatives of religious organizations and scholars fromIslamic universities discussed IHL, humanitarian issues andICRC activities at meetings and two round-tables organizedwith the National Society. Journalists reporting on humanitarianaffairs learnt about IHL and the challenges faced by health careproviders at international workshops (see Dakar and Lebanon)and elsewhere. At a local workshop, 10 members of human rightsgroups as well as 14 journalists familiarized themselves withthe challenges involved in humanitarian work and the ICRC’smandate and activities. In the M’bera camp, religious and communityleaders learnt about the ICRC and the Movement family-linksservices through briefings. Such efforts helped raise awareness andfoster support for Movement action among others in these people’scircles of influence and the general public.RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENTNational Society volunteers train in preparation forspillover effects of the conflict in MaliThe Mauritanian Red Crescent, with ICRC help, developed itsemergency response and other capacities to respond to the spillovereffects of the conflict in northern Mali; a three-year frameworkagreement formalized this partnership. Volunteers underwenttraining in restoring family links (see Civilians), conducting economicsecurity activities and managing water resources duringcrises. Support for first-aid training was limited to one coordinatorattending a workshop abroad (see Algeria), while the process ofidentifying qualified volunteers continued. The National Societystrengthened its capacity to raise public awareness of and supportfor Movement activities with the hiring of a communicationsexpert and the provision of communication equipment.The National Society also strengthened its knowledge of IHL, andits legal base and statutes, by sending representatives to an annualmeeting of legal advisers in Switzerland, to an IHL course abroad(see Lebanon) and to the Council of Delegates, with support fromthe ICRC/International Federation.Representatives from 11 National Societies, the InternationalFederation and the ICRC exchanged views and best practices withregard to security, access and the evolving humanitarian environmentin the Sahel region.Planned IHL activities involving universities, including trainingabroad and the inclusion of IHL courses in university curricula,were postponed to 2014, pending the selection of qualifiedcandidates and the resolution of administrative constraints atpartner institutions.180 | ICRC ANNUAL REPORT 2013