Ethiopia: Senior police officers enhance knowledge on humanitarian principles

A two-day training brought together 55 senior federal police officers on how international human rights standards and humanitarian principles can be applied to policing.

In his opening remarks, Federal Police Deputy Commissioner General Hidego Seyoum said the training would have paramount importance in ensuring good governance and building of a democratic system to which the country is embarking upon.

"All human rights standards and humanitarian principles are clearly stated in our constitution, but are not properly put into practice for various reasons. Failing to strictly observe the laws and principles related to policing is punishable by the law was the most important lesson I learnt from the training," said Commander Fikadu Engida who works in Crime Investigation and Law Enforcement Division of the Federal Police Commission.

"The training will help us to build our capacity in applying international policing standards in our work thereby enable us to attain our organization's cardinal purpose-to serve and protect the public."

Organized by the ICRC, in partnership with the Federal Police Commission, the training covered topics related to police responsibilities and powers, use of force and police ethics.

Another trainee, Chief Inspector Tsigegenet Baraki of Riot Police Division said, "I have now a better knowledge about international human rights standards and humanitarian principles like humanity and proportionality which will help me discharges my responsibilities effectively and efficiently in the future."

According to Aster Andualem, Police Program Advisor with the ICRC delegation in Ethiopia, the participants expressed their determination to put into practice what they learnt from the training.

In Ethiopia, the ICRC is promoting humanitarian principles among the members of both the federal and regional police forces as well as the military through the provision of seminars and trainings.