Upholding Human Rights of the Armed Forces Personnel: Publication Launch

On 5 March, ODIHR and the Geneva Sector for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) are launching a compendium aimed at ensuring the protection and enforcement of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of armed forces personnel.  

This publication presents an overview of legislation, OSCE commitments, policies and mechanisms - including many successful examples and good practices from across the OSCE region. 

The compendium provides recommendations for respecting human rights of armed forces personnel on 18 distinct topics such as:

• civil rights
• freedom of association
• rights of racial minorities
• prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment
• human rights education
• military justice

The launch event will bring together key supporters of human rights within the OSCE region and legal experts who authored several of the chapters to discuss the state of human rights of armed forces personnel and the key findings of this new compendium.

Why it is important

As representatives of the state structure, armed forces personnel are bound to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in the exercise of their duties. But only when their rights are guaranteed within their own institution will armed forces personnel be likely to uphold these rights in the discharge of their tasks — both when in the barracks and during operations. The recognition that international human rights standards apply to armed forces personnel is also an important commitment in the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.

Participants

This event seeks to secure the attendance of, first and foremost, representatives of the OSCE’s 57 participating States, both in Vienna and/or Geneva as well as in capital. Representatives of other states outside the OSCE, including its Partners for Co-operation, international organizations, NGOs, academics and others interested in the intersection between human rights and security are also invited to attend.

Agenda

Opening remarks 

• Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith, Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN in Geneva 

Welcome remarks

• Matteo Mecacci, Director of ODIHR 
• Ambassador Thomas Guerber, Director of DCAF 

Speakers and Q&As 

• Prof. Ian Leigh, Durham University         
• Prof. Alison Duxbury, University of Melbourne 
• Emmanuel Jacob, President of EUROMIL 

Closing remarks

From Permanent Representation of Finland to the OSCE:

• Sebastian Gahnström, First Secretary
• Col. Tuomas Liukko, Military Adviser

The event will be moderated by Andrea Huber, Head of Human Rights Department at ODIHR.

Registration

To register, please go to: https://dcaf-ch.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q7egwV_MQDObCYE-Po1sCQ.

If you have any questions concerning the event, please contact:

Jonna Naumanen, Human Rights Officer, ODIHR (Jonna.naumanen@odihr.pl)

Will McDermott, Project Coordinator, DCAF (w.mcdermott@dcaf.ch)