An impartial, neutral, and independent humanitarian organisation, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is dedicated to protecting the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflicts and other forms of violence worldwide.

Deputy head of delegation at ICRC, James Matthews, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Protection of Civilians (PoC) workshop, organised jointly with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to strengthen regional frameworks for civilian protection across West Africa. dialogue.

It was designed to offer practical recommendations to inform ECOWAS’s protection of civilians’ policy during peace support operations.

“This is an ECOWAS brainstorming session on developing a protection of civilians’ policy for peace support operations, ensuring practical and implementable strategies that safeguard vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas,” Mr Matthews said.

He explained that the ICRC’s mission included preventing suffering by promoting and strengthening International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and universal humanitarian principles across states and international organisations to ensure accountability and compliance.

Mr Matthews added that the ICRC collaborated with governments and international bodies to develop doctrines, policies, and operational standards that translated legal obligations into practical guidance for conflict and post-conflict humanitarian operations.

He noted that the ICRC had partnered with the African Union and multiple states to promote protection of civilians’ policies, ensuring adherence to IHL while minimising harm during peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions in crisis regions.

“Civilians bear the brunt of armed conflict and violence, and it is essential to minimise the negative impact on them while respecting human rights and international humanitarian obligations,” Mr Matthews noted.

He commended ECOWAS for its engagement in developing a protection of civilians’ policy, noting that the ICRC had supported the organisation for more than two decades in IHL and human rights implementation.

Also speaking, director of ECOWAS Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Cyriaque Agnekethom, said the workshop aimed to develop policies that strengthened regional capacity to prevent harm to civilians across West Africa during crises.

Represented by Joseph Ahoba, Head of the ECOWAS Small Arms Division, Mr Agnekethom expressed appreciation to the ICRC for its technical expertise and steadfast partnership in advancing humanitarian principles while respecting ECOWAS’s sovereignty.

He added that the cooperation reflected a shared commitment to upholding human dignity even in challenging environments, while peace-support cooperation remained among the most visible instruments of the ECOWAS Regional Peace and Security Act.

Mr Agnekethom added that ECOWAS had demonstrated leadership in responding to crises across West Africa, but evolving conflict dynamics, including terrorism and violent threats, had significantly affected operational planning, deployment, and execution of peace operations. 

(NAN)