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The following is a brief description of some of the ICRC’s activities in the Caribbean.
The general purpose and object of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as an independent, impartial and neutral organisation is to provide humanitarian protection and assistance, alleviate human suffering and to contribute to the maintenance and promotion of peace globally. The community of States has given the ICRC a unique role, based on international humanitarian law and customary international law, to protect the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants.
The mandate of the ICRC is granted by the Geneva Conventions of 1949, its Additional Protocols, the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Resolutions of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. With its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the ICRC is based in around 80 countries and has a total of more than 12,000 staff.
The ICRC Sub-Delegation for the CARICOM Region is based in Port of Spain and maintains responsibility for implementation of its Mandate in Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. There is also an ICRC operational Delegation based in Haiti.
Mindful of the peculiarities of the CARICOM Region insofar as the Mandate of the ICRC is concerned, the ICRC Sub-Regional Delegation directs its efforts towards the protection, prevention and cooperation components of the organisation's objectives.
Protection
The ICRC, through its Regional Delegation in Caracas, continues to undertake routine visits to Security Detainees based in St. George's, Grenada. Activities of such nature are enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and based on the consent of the receiving State. As with all of its activities, the ICRC prides itself on maintaining all principles of the Red Cross Movement, in particular: confidentiality; impartiality; neutrality and independence.
Prevention
Through its prevention portfolio, the Sub-Regional Delegation continues to work closely with the appropriate Executive and Legislative branches of Government of all States throughout the region, with the intention of ensuring the most favourable responses to the ratification of/ accession to International Humanitarian Law instruments and the implementation of same into domestic law. The ICRC also coordinates its activities with Regional Organisations (such as the Caribbean Community Organisation, the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States and the Organisation of American States) in the implementation of its tasks.
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The ICRC is also aware that the nature of armed conflict is changing. The majority of present-day armed conflicts are of non-international character, where key actors frequently include members of the Police and Security Forces, as well as the Armed Forces. In this regard, the ICRC has recognised that in order to ensure adequate protection and assistance to victims of situations of armed violence, the best protection that can be offered is in ensuring respect for fundamental principles of humanity in the conduct of operations by all parties concerned. Consequently, the ICRC Sub-Regional Delegation works closely with all Defence and Police Forces throughout the region on ensuring that all military, training and practical doctrine conform to standards of International Humanitarian Law and principles. Organisations such as the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, Regional Police Training College and the Regional Security Service also prove useful as coordination mechanisms in the conduct of ICRC activities.
Insofar as the mandate of dissemination in concerned, the ICRC also works with Universities throughout the region in the implementation of International Humanitarian Law within existing tertiary-level academic courses or as stand-alone courses. Accordingly, the Sub-Regional Delegation coordinates training for selected academics from the University of the West Indies (from the St. Augustine, Cave Hill and Mona Campuses), University of Guyana and Anton de Kom University (Suriname) on International Humanitarian Law each year, with appropriate refresher courses, where necessary. With respect to the secondary schooling system, the ICRC continues to implement its "Exploring Humanitarian Law" (EHL) Programme on a gradual basis, commencing with the secondary schooling system in Trinidad and Tobago. The overarching goals of the EHL Programme is to develop an understanding of the principles of IHL and values stemming thereof among the youth in the 13-18 years range, while ensuring that education in IHL becomes fully accepted as an integral part of basic education in the secondary school curricula.
Cooperation
The ICRC Sub-Delegation continues to value highly the role of all components within the Red Cross Movement and appreciates the need for continuous training and cooperation between all National Societies of the region and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Caribbean Office). As such, the Sub-Regional Delegation looks forward to the various opportunities to partner with all National Societies during its upcoming Mission visits to its portfolio States in 2008, together with the various joint activities planned with the Federation in 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Charles R. Sabga, Head of Office,
ICRC Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago,
Tel : +1 868 622 1336/ 628-9179 |
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