Abuja (ECOWAS Community Court / ICRC) – Judges and staff of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS attended a two-day training workshop on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on 6 March 2019 – also called the law of war or the law of armed conflict organized in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Abuja.
The Court addresses many cases related to breaches of international law every year in line with its human rights mandate. The first of its kind, the workshop, will bring together the Court's five judges and more than 20 staff drawn mainly from the Court's Registry and the Research and Documentation Department. It aims to develop the role and expertise of the judges in the application of IHL and improve the understanding of the staff of the legal framework to better support the judges.
The workshop, which will be held in five sessions, will introduce the participants to IHL, protection of health care and access to health care, use of force in military and security operations and applicable rules for detention in armed conflict.
"As a number of countries in West Africa are dealing with armed conflicts, it is more important than ever for judges from our Community Court of Justice to strengthen their understanding of international humanitarian law," Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the Court said of the workshop.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Sunny Ugoh, ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, +2348036591265
Zahraa Al-Janabi, ICRC Abuja, + 234 903 151 5543(English)
Aliyu Dawobe, ICRC Abuja, + 234 8028417085 (Hausa)
