icrc-annual-report-2013

In Togo, planned upgrades to prisons’ water/sanitation facilitieswere scaled back as the penitentiary authorities reviewedthe terms of their agreement with the ICRC. Nevertheless, some2,400 detainees in four prisons improved their living conditionswith ICRC-supplied cleaning material. Inmates in the Lomécentral prison were protected against outbreaks of disease byurgent sanitation measures carried out with the authorities.AUTHORITIES, ARMED FORCES AND OTHER BEARERS OFWEAPONS, AND CIVIL SOCIETYSoldiers deploying to Burkina Faso or Mali or deployed inwestern Côte d’Ivoire learn more about IHLWith the Ivorian military focused on reorganization, activities withits IHL office were limited to campaigning for support for domesticintegration of IHL among influential actors in Côte d’Ivoireand in the region. Nonetheless, over 2,300 soldiers, includingauxiliary troops in western Côte d’Ivoire, learnt more about theirresponsibilities under IHL through information sessions. Another2,100 troops – among them Burkinabé soldiers deployed nearBurkina Faso’s border with Mali and Burkinabé and Ivorian andTogolese forces deploying to Mali or Côte d’Ivoire – added to whatthey knew about IHL. Through information sessions and workshops,some 840 police/gendarmerie agents acquired a better graspof IHL/human rights principles applicable to their duties, such asinternational standards governing the use of force during arrests.One military officer from every country in the region attendedcourses in San Remo and some 180 Ivorian officers took part insimilar courses in Côte d’Ivoire; in addition, 20 Ivorian militaryand gendarmerie instructors bolstered their ability to teach IHL.In Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo, 165 students at military/gendarmerie academies learnt more about IHL and internationallyrecognized law enforcement standards. Burkina Faso’s nationalofficers’ school and the Ivorian military’s IHL office received IHLmaterial. Benin’s armed forces established their own IHL office.All the countries in the region sign the Arms Trade TreatyThe region’s authorities, including officials handling weaponrelatedissues, discussed ratification/implementation of IHL treatiesat ICRC information sessions and conferences, for example ontreaties relating to weapon proliferation (see Nigeria) and, in Togo,on the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitionsin Africa. All five State covered by the delegation signed the ArmsTrade Treaty. Togolese and Ivorian officials, with ICRC help,worked on the draft of a regional treaty regulating the proliferationof small arms and light weapons.Beninese, Ivorian and Togolese authorities reviewed their respectivepenal codes; while doing so they took into account the ICRC’sviews on incorporating sanctions against IHL violations in domesticlaw. Ghanaian authorities and the Ivorian Justice Ministry alsoheeded the ICRC’s advice while drafting a law on the emblem,ratifying the Rome Statute and implementing the Convention onCluster Munitions.magistrates, members of human rights groups and youth leaders,learnt about IHL/humanitarian issues of specific interest to themand broadened their exposure to the Movement through briefingsand other events organized by the pertinent National Societywith the ICRC. Medical personnel learnt about best practices insituations of insecurity through a white paper produced by theIvorian Order of Physicians with ICRC input; this was in linewith the goals of the Health Care in Danger project. Beninese,Ivorian and Togolese students participated in national moot courtcompetitions in their respective countries. With ICRC support,an Ivorian university introduced an IHL course. Local authorities,particularly in western Côte d’Ivoire and in the area nearBurkina Faso’s border with Mali, were made aware of IHL and theICRC’s activities.Journalists were informed of the complexities of reporting onhumanitarian action through IHL courses in Côte d’Ivoire andin Togo. In-depth television and print coverage familiarized thepublic with Movement activities. As the country recovered fromthe events of 2011, people in Côte d’Ivoire learnt more about theICRC’s activities.RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENTThe five National Societies in the region improved their emergencyresponse capacities with ICRC help: they shared best practicesduring workshops and trained volunteers in family-links services,first-aid and hygiene promotion. Burkinabé volunteers providedassistance/family-links services for Malian refugees and host communitiesin Burkina Faso, while Ivorian volunteers helped meetthe needs of conflict-affected people, including those in remotecommunities (see Civilians). In Togo, trained volunteers werepresent at election-related events and protests, to tend to victimsof violence.The National Societies organized dissemination sessions and otherrelated events, notably in line with the World Red Cross and RedCrescent Day, with a view to raising public awareness of neutraland impartial humanitarian action and the Movement’s emblems.In Côte d’Ivoire, private health care facilities discussed the properuse of the red cross/red crescent emblem with the National Societyand the ICRC.Where necessary, the National Societies reformed their managerialand financial practices, and strengthened their statues with helpfrom the International Federation and the ICRC. However, theBenin Red Cross’s financial/organizational issues remained unresolveddespite an external audit.Movement partners met regularly to coordinate their activities.Burkinabé and Togolese authorities discussed strengthening theirrespective IHL committees with ICRC help. The Togolese IHLcommittee had new members, appointed by the authorities.Over 3,000 influential civil society members learn aboutIHL and the Movement’s neutral actionCivil society members throughout the region, including studentABIDJAN (REGIONAL) | 221