The National
Commission on International Humanitarian Law on Monday launched its action plan
for 2015-2016, it is concerned with the application of the Geneva Conventions
relating to the victims of war, and the use of weapons and the protection of
the environment during wars and holy places and hospitals and the protection of
medical personnel and helping the wounded. Through the dissemination and awareness of the principles and the
goals and objectives of the international humanitarian law at the level of
institutions and individuals, and the exchange of experiences with associations
and organizations working in this area on the enhancement of cooperation and ensuring the implementation
and effectiveness of the provisions of the Law through coordination between the
relevant authorities and to review relevant legislation and make the necessary
recommendations to the authorities concerned in this regard.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Al
Awadi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs and head of the Commission, said that the action plan for
2015-2016 includes 23 operations to be implemented during two years, through
the three committees: Media,
Orientation and Publication, Training and Education, and Legislations. It include a breakdown of the
international humanitarian law conventions and the status of the UAE thereof
regarding signing or joining them or not, and preparation of a list of federal
and local authorities affecting or affected by the provisions of those
conventions and address them to seek their opinion on whether or not to join,
and on legislation or to modify existing ones to conform to the obligations
imposed by the international humanitarian law conventions.
Al Awadi noted that they
will be conducting awareness field visits for school students to introduce them to the international
humanitarian law and the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law,
and holding specialized orientation seminars for college students on the
activity of the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law for
students from the Colleges of Law, Political Sciences, Media and Mass
Communication and military academies.
He also added that
the Commission will prepare two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the
Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI), as well as networking
with representatives of national commissions on international humanitarian law
in other countries, particularly the Gulf States and arab countries, to
exchange experiences and to identify activities and exchange visits to promote
cooperation and communication to reflect the human experience of the UAE that
is consistent with the objectives and tasks of the Commission.
The ten members of
the UAE National Commission on International Humanitarian Law are
representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Institute of
Judicial Training Studies (ITJS), the Federal National Council (FNC), the
Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education,
the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the General
Headquarters of the Armed Forces, State Security, and the Emirates Red Crescent
(ERC).
20/01/2015