BAMAKO, MALI -- 32 Malian military officers, ministry of defense civilians, national police, and NGOs participated in a DIILS engagement on law of armed conflict and human rights from 8-11 September 2014.  The engagement also included observers from the European Union Training Mission in Mali, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).  This dynamic mix of military commanders, legal advisors, judges, and NGO representatives fostered a rich discussion of human rights issues encountered in the context of military operations.  One of the highlights of the engagement was a presentation about the Malian Code of Conduct by the Chief of the Human Rights Section of the Malian Army.

This was DIILS’ first engagement in Mali since the 2012 coup d’état there.  Since then, UN missions in Mali have supported the political process and carried out a number of security-related stabilization tasks, with a focus on major population centers and lines of communication, protecting civilians, human rights monitoring, the creation of conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the return of displaced persons, the extension of State authority and the preparation of free, inclusive and peaceful elections.

By reaffirming the military’s commitment to compliance with international human rights norms in domestic operations, Mali is setting the conditions for a transition to a post-conflict state with accountable and transparent armed forces.  Engagements like this DIILS seminar raise awareness of the military code of conduct, which, in turn, facilitates enhanced civil-military dialog and a whole of government approach to restoring peace and stability.