17:19, 08 May 2009 | GMT +5
War and calamity victims must be heard
ASTANA. May 8. KAZINFORM. /Rizvana Sadykova/ The International Committee of the Red Cross has held an international humanitarian law training course for students and young university teachers in Astana.

Mr. Raoul Forster, Head of the Prevention and Communication Department of Regional Delegation of the ICRC in Central Asia kindly agreed to give his comments on the event in an interview to Kazinform.
Could you briefly describe the goals and activities of the ICRC?
The International Committee of the Red Cross is an impartial, neutral and independent organization, whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the life and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to assist them. It leads and coordinates international assistance activities performed by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in conflict situations. The Movement consists of three components: 1) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2) National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which exist in 186 countries at present including Kazakhstan, and 3) the ICRC. The ICRC strives to prevent human suffering by promoting international humanitarian law (IHL), also known as law of armed conflicts, universal humanitarian principles and by disseminating the relevant knowledge.
What was the purpose of your visit to Astana?
My visit coincides with two occasions. The first one is the three-day Course on the basics of international humanitarian law (IHL), that was just held at the facilities of the Kazakh University of Humanities and Law (KazUHL) and attended by 25 students and young teachers from KazUHL and Eurasian National University. KazUHL organized the Course with the support of ICRC. For three days, best lecturers from the Eurasian National University (Prof. Zhanat Kulazhabayeva) named after Gumilev and the Kazakh University of Humanities and Law (Abai Abylayuly, Ulyana Ramazanova, Ardak Dauletyar) , as well as guest lecturers (Prof. Rizvana Sadykova, Head of English Editorial, ?Kazinform?), specialists from the ICRC and National Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan deliver lectures and conducted workshops on the topical issues of IHL. In fact, following more than 10 years of IHL dissemination in Kazakhstan, ICRC has reached a new level of cooperation with the higher education institutions by signing this year Memorandums of Understanding with KazUHL and Eurasian National University (ENU) respectively. This Course was the first joint event conducted after signing the document and I hope that our further cooperation will bring more fruits of this kind. The purpose of the Course is to stimulate the interest of students in exploring the topical issues of IHL, while the teachers will find it useful in terms of being able, during the Course, to learn the methods of teaching this subject. In addition, we hope that, in perspective, these teachers will be able to act as national advisors to the public authorities on IHL issues of concern.
The second occasion is the launch of an ambitious new campaign called "Our world. Your move" by the world's largest humanitarian network ? the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Millions of people worldwide are affected by armed conflicts, natural catastrophes, internal violence and climate change.The aim of the campaign is to give the victims of war and disaster a stronger voice, and to attempt to get people around the globe to sit up and take action. The main idea is that anyone can show their interest and make a difference via the web portal www.ourworld-yourmove.org in order to help restore order to a world in a mess. The site also allows users to share their experiences through blog contributions, videos and photos. This initiative coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino, in Italy, which led to the birth of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, as well as the 90th anniversary of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions.
Are there other anniversaries this year to be celebrated by the international community?
60 years ago, states gathered together after WWII to define and establish rules protecting the victims of possible armed conflicts, which were eventually enshrined in four Geneva Conventions regulating the issues of protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked in the armies and navy, prisoners of war and civilians from the effects of the hostilities that are now the main source of IHL. To mark this anniversary, the ICRC is planning in collaboration with ENU to organize a forum for CIS states on some of the modern challenges faced by the national authorities in their efforts to respect IHL and humanitarian principles in times of armed conflict and of violence, for instance on issues of how much force can be used to maintain peace and security and/or law and order in their respective countries. National authorities certainly have an obligation to ensure peace and security, law and order, but at the same time, they have an obligation to respect international norms protecting potential victims in relation to acts of violence. The challenge is to find the right balance between the use of force and the protection of victims. Our event will serve as a forum for IHL academicians, civil servants responsible for implementation of international norms in the national legislation and the representatives of armed forces responsible for the application of these norms. Therefore, it will be a platform where theory will meet application and practice.
Are the IHL principles applicable in Kazakhstan, although we are blessed with a peaceful situation?
After WWII, being horrified of international violence and global sufferings endured by humanity, the international community gathered together in San Francisco in June 1945 at an international conference and decided to outlaw war. The result was the creation of the UN Charter. However, understanding that war is a reality, which is at times inevitable, the community of states established rules ? the mentioned Geneva Conventions of 1949 ? that should be observed by the states in order to better protect the victims of armed conflicts. There is no doubt that to maintain peace and security each and every state needs armed forces and, just as the army is necessary for the country, in the same way IHL is necessary for the army.
What is the role that Kazakhstan could play in the promotion of the IHL?
Kazakhstan could play a very important role in positioning itself on the humanitarian agendas worldwide, in promoting the international norms and in representing a beacon of hope for the future generation. This corresponds fully with Kazakhstan?s aspirations. From its side, the ICRC, as the main expert of IHL in the world recognized by the community of states, would be more than happy to assist Kazakhstan in its endeavor to respect and ensure respect of the humanitarian values.