icrc-annual-report-2013

AUTHORITIES, ARMED FORCES AND OTHER BEARERSOF WEAPONS, AND CIVIL SOCIETYDialogue with the Russian authorities on IHL and other normsapplicable to the situation in the northern Caucasus remained suspended,but other humanitarian issues, including IHL promotionand implementation in general, remained the focus of discussionswith all authorities in the region. These discussions, including thehigh-level dialogue that took place during the ICRC president’svisit to Moscow in October, also sought the authorities’ supportfor ICRC operations in the region and beyond.States push IHL implementation forwardMoldova signed the Arms Trade Treaty in September; the ICRCcontinued to pursue dialogue in this regard with Belarus andUkraine’s national IHL committees. Representatives of the threecountries’ national IHL committees discussed their experiencesand plans for 2014 with the ICRC during a coordination meetingheld by the Belarus committee.With ICRC assistance, the Permanent Commission on Defence andSecurity Issues of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS formulateddraft recommendations on implementing the BiologicalWeapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention andsubmitted them for comments to CIS parliaments.In the Russian Federation, an ICRC-supported informal workinggroup prepared draft amendments to help align the criminal codewith internationally recognized standards. Russian and Ukrainianrepresentatives contributed their views on conflict-related topics,such as detention during non-international armed conflict, at aninternational conference (see Brussels).States take steps to address weapon contaminationGovernments in the region endeavoured to address weaponcontamination and mine risks in their countries (see Civilians).At an international conference organized by the Russian Ministryof Emergency Situations and the ICRC, representatives fromBelarus, Moldova, Ukraine and other countries learnt more aboutthe constraints faced by humanitarian demining organizationswhen working internationally.Armed forces enhance their knowledge of IHLAfter more than three years at a standstill, dialogue between theRussian Ministry of Defence and the ICRC resumed. The RussianGround Forces High Command invited the organization toparticipate in future activities; its training and research centrealso approved the publication of an IHL handbook. The ICRCprovided support for a competition for military psychologistsaimed at familiarizing participants with issues of IHL implementationand preventing IHL violations through psychological supportfor those taking part in military operations.The CIS Council of Defence Ministers began bilateral consultationswith the ICRC, enabling discussion of possible areas of cooperation.The ICRC attended a meeting of the council for the firsttime; the participants discussed multilateral military cooperation.Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defence and the CSTOattended an expert workshop in Sydney, Australia (see Suva), onprotecting patients and medical staff/facilities during militaryoperations, held as part of the Health Care in Danger project. At aCSTO international conference in November, the ICRC spoke onpeacekeeping and IHL applicability.Through an IHL instructors’ course, 24 Russian military academicsenhanced their teaching skills on legal frameworks applicableto security operations and armed conflicts. With ICRCsupport, 17 high-ranking officials and representatives of seven CIScountries and the CSTO attended an international course in IHL.Three senior military officers from Belarus and the CSTO participatedin the Senior Workshop on International Rules GoverningMilitary Operations (see International law and cooperation).The Belarusian Ministry of Defence and the ICRC jointly organizedseminars on incorporating IHL in operational planningand on issues covered by the Health Care in Danger project,including the Safer Access Framework. They also organized aregional round-table at which representatives of the Belarusian,Moldovan, Russian and Ukrainian Defence Ministries and theCSTO discussed the challenges of incorporating IHL provisionsin military practice.Academics discuss humanitarian issuesAcademic and other institutions, working with the ICRC, helpedincrease awareness of humanitarian concerns. For instance, theRussian Association of International Law and the St. PetersburgState University co-organized the Martens Readings InternationalConference, which brought together over 100 IHL experts. Issuessuch as victims’ legal protection and access to health care duringconflict were discussed. Russian, Belarusian and Moldovanstudents tested their grasp of IHL at the regional Martens mootcourtand the Jean-Pictet competitions (see Bangkok).Over 80 researchers spoke on humanitarian issues at internationalround-tables co-organized with the Franco-Russian Centrefor Social and Human Sciences, the Institute of World Economyand International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences,and the Russian State University for the Humanities. At a roundtableorganized by the Diplomatic Academy of the RussianMinistry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Association ofInternational Law, participants discussed the challenges of applyingIHL to cyber warfare.Russian media, in some cases using ICRC sources and/or coveringthe aforementioned events, drew attention to humanitarian issues,including in connection with the northern Caucasus. In particular,the plight of missing persons and mine/ERW victims, the needsof vulnerable groups affected by previous conflicts, and pressinghumanitarian concerns elsewhere in the world received attention.Contacts with the media and other civil society actors included around-table at which Russian youth journalists learnt about theICRC and an international conference in Geneva, Switzerland, oncontemporary conflict reporting, which was attended by Moldovanand Russian representatives.RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENTThe region’s National Societies, with help from the InternationalFederation/ICRC, continued to strengthen the legal bases for theiractivities and reinforce their operational capacities. The RussianRed Cross prepared a revised draft of the law on the NationalSociety and the emblem, high-level authorities confirmed theirsupport for such efforts.With ICRC assistance, National Society staff in the northernCaucasus enhanced their fundraising skills through training conductedby the Danish Red Cross. Staff in Ingushetia and NorthOssetia trained in providing community-based psychosocial392 | ICRC ANNUAL REPORT 2013