REPORT OF THE 6^th REGIONAL COURSE ON LAW OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND ETHICS

The General Directorate of Military Health organized in collaboration with the ICMM Reference Center for Training in International Humanitarian Law and Ethics (CRF -DIHE), the 6^th Tunis Course in International Law of Armed Conflicts and Ethics in the Military Health Service’s Application School, during the period from 04 to 08 December 2017.

This course was supported by the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Tunis and others partners. It has become an annual event for health officers to learn and share their experiences in the field of Law of Armed Conflict (LoAC). Its purpose was to raise the awareness of participants for the LoAC and to establish its links with the specific missions of the health services.

This year, the course was conducted for the first time in the two languages of the ICMM and held in presence of Col Johan CROUSE, head of the CRF -DIHE teachers and Legal Advisor of ICMM Secretary General. Took part in this scientific event 30 participants from Tunisia, Palestine and United Arab Emirates. They were divided into two separate classes; one Anglophone and one Francophone. Two joint plenary sessions were held, including one with simultaneous translation.

The scientific program covered a total of 28 hours of teaching divided into conferences and workshops and earned 22 CPD units (continuous professional development) approved by the National Institutes of Accreditation in Health (INASanté). This course focused on military medical ethics, medical confidentiality and informed consent during conflict and during peacekeeping missions, the double duty of the health officer, human behavior in times of war and the pursuit of war crime culprits.

Coaching was provided by Col Johan CROUSE (South Africa) and Col Thorsten SHAAY (Germany) for the English class and Dr Caroline CLARINVAL (Belgium) for the French speaking class. The Ethics part was led by Dr. Daniel MESSELKEN (Germany). Tunisian speakers participated with those of the CRF -DIHE and the ICRC to conduct the course.

This course was enhanced by the presence of Senior Colonel (MD) Mustapha FERJANI Surgeon General of Tunisian Armed Forces, who presided the course opening ceremony in presence of Brigadier General Humbert BOISSEAUX Vice President of the Scientific Council of the ICMM and Mrs Alessandra MENEGON the ICRC Regional Delegate in Tunis. A courtesy meeting was granted by His Excellency Mr. Abdelkrim ZBIDI Minister of Defense to the representatives of the ICMM.

The course evaluation committee meeting was held in the margin of the scientific event in presence of Col Johan CROUSE and General Humbert BOISSEAUX and allowed to evaluate the preparations and the progress of the current session and to discuss future activities. This session was considered very successful in organizational and scientific terms. It was proposed to maintain the course in its present form for the next two years by organizing it during the first week of December 2018 and 2019 for the benefit of Tunisian and international participants divided into two French classes and one English class.