International Workshop promotes debate on Integrated Protection of Civilians in peace missions
The International Workshop on the Integrated Protection of Civilians (IPoC), which was conducted by the Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center (CCOPAB, acronym in Portuguese), finished on July 7. The event, which lasted five days, was held at the Brazilian War College and presented the work of several United Nations agencies, international Non-Governmental Organizations as well as the experiences of military personnel in unstable environments.
Official photo
Nearly 50 people attended the lectures delivered by representatives of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), former members of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The conference also counted on the participation of representatives of many international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders-Brazil (MSF, acronym in French), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR-Brazil), World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam).
The Conference also had two case studies, guided by Learning Facilitators that have already been deployed as military observers to United Nations peace missions. Additionally, foreign members of Peace Operation Centers from Friendly Nations, researchers of the Brazilian Network of Research on Peace Operations (REBRAPAZ, acronym in Portuguese) and representatives of international organizations participated in the event.
In the closing ceremony, CCOPAB’s commander, Colonel Carlos Augusto Ramires Teixeira, and Major Gedeel Valim, who was the coordinator of the IPoC, thanked the presence of the participants and addressed the importance of the debate and exchange of experience between military and police personnel and civilians, since they enable a better coordination among all components of this kind of mission. CCOPAB’s commander also highlighted that the event brought a new perspective regarding the syllabus of the 2018 Course on Protection of Civilians.
TRANSLATION: CPT CAMILA PAIVA
