Kuwait city: Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Adviser Abdulrahman Al-Mehanna, emphasized the committee's dedication to preparing national cadres capable of training officials and building sustainable capacity to enhance compliance with international obligations. This statement followed the conclusion of the second phase of a training program organized by the National Committee.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the program is conducted in collaboration with the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Foreign Ministry's human rights department, and the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies. The initiative, titled "Accredited National Trainer in International Humanitarian Law," aims to reinforce the State's institutional capacity to disseminate IHL rules across official bodies. It ensures the presence of qualified experts who can deliver specialized training and establish a unified understanding of the State's international obligations.
The program also seeks to develop training programs compatible with national realities, supporting governmental readiness in addressing conflicts and emergencies in line with international standards. Al-Mehanna noted that the first phase focused on core IHL principles, including the protection of persons and civilian objects, rules of armed conflicts, responsibility for violations, and mechanisms for implementing the law.
The second phase covered evaluation of research and presentations, training methodologies, preparation of training material, information delivery, and mock trials. Lecturers and trainers included national experts in IHL, such as judges, advisers, and professors of international criminal law, as well as specialized legal experts from the Red Cross regional delegation.
Participating entities included the Ministry of Justice, Fatwa and Legislation Department, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defense, Health, and Information, along with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society. Al-Mehanna expressed gratitude to the ICRC Regional Delegation, the Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Department, and the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies for their cooperation in ensuring the program's success and supporting efforts to enhance human rights protection and uphold IHL principles.
Concluding his statement to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Mehanna expressed the committee's aspiration to develop accredited national trainers to strengthen institutional awareness, integrate IHL rules into national training and policies, and enhance practical compliance with its provisions. The training program, held from November 23-27 at the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies, aligns with efforts to promote IHL principles, realize the objectives of relevant international conventions, enhance international cooperation in this field, and expand national awareness of these principles.