REPORT OF THE 7^th REGIONAL COURSE ON LAW OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND ETHICS

?Tunisian General Directorate of Military Health organized in collaboration with the ICMM Center of Reference for Education on International Humanitarian Law and Ethics (RCE -IHL E), the 7^th Tunis Regional Course on Law of Armed Conflicts and Ethics during the period December 2-6, 2019.

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

The course was conducted in the two languages of the ICMM and held in presence of Col Johan CROUSE, head teacher of the RCE -IHL E and Representative of ICMM Secretary General. Were present in this event forty-five participants including fifteen internationals coming from Bangladesh, Qatar, Nigeria, Oman, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates. Participants were divided into three separate classes; one Anglophone and two Francophone. Two joint plenary sessions were held with simultaneous translation, including the opening ceremony and the Military Medical Ethics' Day.

The scientific program covered a total of 28 hours of training divided into lectures and workshops. It 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, 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 ICMM RCE -IHL E international Teachers including Col Johan CROUSE (South Africa) and Col Thorsten SHAAY (Germany) for the English syndicate and Col Riadh ALLANI (Tunisia), Dr Caroline CLARINVAL (Belgium) and Maj Hager BARAKISOU (Tunisia) for the French speaking syndicates. The Ethics part was led by Dr. Daniel MESSELKEN (Germany) and Pr Zouheir JERBI (Tunisia). Tunisian speakers and from the ICRC participated to conduct plenary sessions of the course.

This course was enhanced by the presence of Brigadier General (MD) Mustapha FERJANI Surgeon General of Tunisian Armed Forces, who chaired the course opening ceremony in presence of Col Johan CROUSE ICMM SG Representatives and Ms Alessandra MENEGON the ICRC Regional Delegate in Tunis.

The course evaluation committee meeting was held in the margin of this event in presence of Col Johan CROUSE to evaluate the preparations and the progress of the current session and to discuss future activities. This session was considered as a successful event in organizational and scientific terms.