Indonesia: experts and practitioners discuss peacekeeping-related issues in Bogor
Jakarta, 5 November 2012 – Forty-four military, police and defence ministry officials from 16 countries who have
responsibility for or involvement in peacekeeping issues have gathered in Bogor, Indonesia, to discuss various themes
related to peacekeeping. Co-organized by the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) Experts’ Working Group on
Peacekeeping Operations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the workshop will take place from 6 to
8 November.
"In many parts of the world where peacekeepers are deployed, the ICRC also carries out humanitarian work as mandated by
the international community. The fact that we now have dialogue not only with peacekeepers in the field but also, in
this forum, with decision-makers on peacekeeping activities represents progress," said Frederic Fournier, the head of
the ICRC's regional delegation for Indonesia in Jakarta. "Meanwhile, the ICRC continues to cooperate with peacekeeping
centres in five ASEAN member States, helping promote international humanitarian law and the role of peacekeepers in
implementing it."
"The workshop will help the ADMM Plus experts' working group to identify, develop and strengthen the ability of ADMM
Plus countries to conduct peacekeeping operations and pre-deployment preparations," said Paul Sinclair, who heads
international defence relations at New Zealand's defence ministry. Raymund Quilop, assistant secretary for strategic
assessment at the Philippines Department of National Defence added that the workshop, by highlighting the issues of
civil-military interaction and of the protection of civilians, will further enhance the ability of ADMM Plus countries
to make effective contributions to peacekeeping operations.
Presentations will be made by leading experts from ADMM Plus countries and the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, former force commanders of UN peacekeeping missions, and representatives of ICRC delegations in the
Asia-Pacific region. Participants in the workshop come from 16 different countries: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States
and Viet Nam.
The ICRC frequently provides pre-deployment briefings for troop-contributing nations explaining the humanitarian and
security situation as well as the ICRC's role and presence in countries where a peacekeeping contingent is about to
deploy.
For further information, please visit our website: www.icrc.org
ENDS