The Southern African Community Development Community (SADC) Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (RPTC) and the African Union Accountability Framework (AUCF) are co-hosting working session and training of trainers on the compliance and accountability for peace support operations. The Technical Working Session is being held on 30 June 2023- 01 July 2023, while the Training of Trainers will take place from 03-14 July 2023, in Gaborone, Botswana.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Bridget Osho, the Principal Investigation and Case Management Officer at the African Union Commission, emphasized the importance of compliance of Peace Support Operations (PSOs) with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and applicable standards of Conduct and Discipline, describing it as a factor that goes to “the heart of the effectiveness, legitimacy and credibility of the deployment of AU PSOs.”
On his part, Rear Admiral (JG) Gottlieb Pandeni, Commandant at the SADC RPTC, told participants that it was important for them to be capacitated as personnel deployed under the AU`s authority to enable them to comply with IHL and IHRL and related protection frameworks and applicable standards of conduct and discipline, before and during deployment to PSOs. He added that the capacity development initiatives implemented by the project should be institutionalised and sustained beyond the project cycle. To realise this, training activities will therefore be undertaken at the Basic, Pre-Deployment and In Mission Phases, in accordance with the African Stand by Force (ASF) Training Policy (2008) and ASF Training Standards (2008).
During the technical working session participants will familiarize with the African Union (AU) Compliance and Accountability Framework and the terms of reference of the AUCF Project. The participants will also review the existing compliance and accountability curricula in the targeted institutions and jointly map a strategy for effectively integrating the AU Compliance and Accountability Framework into existing curricula. The target groups for the Technical Working Session consists of the National Police and Military training academies of each SADC Member State, Training departments of the National Police and Military Headquarters of each SADC Member State, SADC Planning Element, SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (RPTC).
The training of Trainers for National Military and Police Training Institutions will provide participants with Basic knowledge of the AU Strategic Framework on Compliance and Accountability for PSOs, advanced knowledge and skills about interactive methodologies used in conducting training based on the AU Curriculum on Compliance and Accountability for PSOs and knowledge and skills in designing and conducting training on the AU Compliance and Accountability Framework. The target groups for the Training of Trainers are Training Officers of National Police and Military training academies of each
SADC Member State, Training departments of the National Police and Military headquarters of each SADC Member State, Training Unit of the SADC Planning Element, Training Unit of SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and SADC Regional
Peacekeeping Training Centre.
