IHL training sessions in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

In late September, the International Humanitarian Law Centre, in collaboration with UNHCR, the OHCHR Eastern Africa Regional Office, and the Ethiopia Protection Cluster carried out a joint training exercise for protection cluster members and government counterparts in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. 

The training covered International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the intersection between IHL and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) in protection and humanitarian programming across various armed conflict and related contexts.

It was well received by participants, who expressed that this information was highly relevant to their programming and strategy, particularly in areas such as child protection, support for persons with disabilities, assistance to vulnerable groups like women, and medical and health aid. Many participants shared that they wished they had received more of this training before the onset of the conflict, recognizing its value for their work as humanitarian actors.

Participants left the workshop with knowledge and tools on how to use International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) effectively in both conflict and non-conflict situations. Key takeaways included the importance of understanding the context to apply the correct legal framework, recognizing the distinct yet overlapping protections of IHL and IHRL, and adhering to humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.

Additionally, while digital solutions improve efficiency, the participants appreciated the value of physical presence in humanitarian work, especially for trust and accountability. Participants also explored navigating complexities like counterterrorism measures and bureaucratic barriers to ensure unimpeded assistance.

We left these sessions with new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the ongoing humanitarian work in Tigray.

Many thanks to all participants and our partners in this training.

Thanks to DG ECHO for funding this activity.