Red Cross, SPLA to promote respect of humanitarian law
December 12, 2007 (JUBA/KHARTOUM) — The Red Cross and the southern Sudan army agreed to cooperate together to integrate International Humanitarian Law into its training programs.
On Tuesday, 4 December 2007, Lt General Oyai Deng Ajak, Chief of General Staff of the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA), and Gianni Volpin, Head of Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting the framework for a three-year cooperation.
According to the signed deal, the ICRC will further support the SPLA in integrating International Humanitarian Law into its training programs, as well as in its rules and regulations, with the final aim of sustaining respect for humanitarian law and humanitarian principles by the SPLA troops.
The ICRC will build the legal expertise of SPLA instructors, and support the development of adapted teaching material on IHL. The SPLA will establish an IHL committee, which will work together with the ICRC to ensure integration of IHL into the SPLA doctrine, procedures and training curriculum.
In Southern Sudan, the ICRC is adapting its former conflict-related activities to the evolving needs. In addition to its activities to promote IHL, it is focusing now on building local capacities in the area of physical rehabilitation for war wounded and disabled people and on helping the Sudanese Red Crescent Society to care for the most vulnerable.
(ST)