ICRC Trains Borno Journalists On IHL Armed Conflict Reporting

ICRC trains Borno journalists on IHL Armed conflict reporting

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has trained Borno working on International Humanitarian Law ( IHL) and the role of the media in reporting Armed conflict.

speaking at the opening of the IHL training at the ICRC office, Maiduguri yesterday, the Head of ICRC sub-delegation in Maiduguri, by Diana Japaridze, said “it is a great pleasure to be here with you today on the occasion of this International Humanitarian Law workshop for journalists. This is the first one of its kind the ICRC hosts in Maiduguri”

“As you might have known, International Humanitarian Law, or IHL for short, consists of the set of rules that define what is permissible and what is not during armed conflict. The primary objective is to protect civilians and civilian properties in times of war, saving lives, and upholding human dignity.”, Diana Japaridze said.

She said “the ICRC is mandated by States through the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, and by the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, to promote and serve as the guardian of international humanitarian law. This workshop aligns with this specific mandate.”.

“Now is a critical moment to communicate on the law. Today, the ICRC counts about 130 armed conflicts across the world – more than we recorded a year ago, and more than six times what we spoke of 25 years ago. We’ve also seen widespread violations of IHL.”, the head said.

She also said the workshop, was aimed at equipping journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of reporting in times of conflict and to understand how journalists are protected under IHL.

“Besides professional capabilities, we also hope this training will further enhance your profound sense of responsibility. Journalism is a profession that demands accuracy, empathy, and integrity, particularly when covering the stories of those affected by conflict. As journalists, you will be equipped with the tools to be ambassadors of IHL in your reporting, ensuring accuracy, and a commitment to human dignity, she added.

Presenting a paper on IHL I Legal coordinator, ICRC Delegation in Nigeria, Iris Miller, sad there two types of conflicts International Armed conflict and Non constitutional Armed conflict…

Mrs Millar said IHL applies only in Armed Conflict situations while Human Right laws and National laws applies in Non Armed conflict situation.

“The basis IHL laws were Geneva convention article 1,2,3, and 4, as well as additional protocol 1, and 2, customary laws were under common article 3, Journalists are given protection under IHL like any other civilian in Armed conflict.”, she added.

Also in her presentation, the legal advisor, ICRC Delegation in Nigeria;, Halimat Temitope said IHL laws was made in 1949 at a Geneva convention and that additional protocol were made in 1977 to set out rules of Armed conflict, as war between one country and another is inevitable but if they must go into war there are rules for the war.

In her remarks, the Communication Delegate of ICRC sub-delegation in Maiduguri, Yuxia Jiang said, in broadcasting Armed conflict and using images, the consent and the identity of the divinity of victims, especially under age and dignity must be protected..