Human rights an every-day concern for crisis management personnel and population in conflict areas
How to present human rights aspects of crisis management in a concise and comprehensive manner that pays attention to the specific needs of different practitioners? The issue was discussed by about fifty experts on human rights and crisis management in the Foreign Ministry's launching of a brand-new handbook on EU crisis management missions. The handbook is a practical "toolbox" for police officers, judges and military personnel in EU-led crisis management operations.
Human rights and armed conflicts are a combination that raises many opinions. Some say integration of human rights is a hindrance to effective international military operations in conflict areas, while others believe that the very neglecting of human rights is a critical reason for prolonged crises and unsuccessful operations.
The handbook by researcher Nina Nordberg aims to enable mainstreaming of human rights and gender perspectives in the EU crisis management missions. The handbook makes an attempt to combine practicality with pivotal human rights principles, said Professor Martti Koskenniemi at the event.
Principles and practice combined
The handbook did give rise to some criticism. Not all population groups, such as persons with disabilities, are adequately discussed in the handbook. On the other hand, a very specific text would not be useful to members of a variety of operations and missions. In the end, much depends on how the handbook is put into use in training prior to operations and while they last.
The handbook is clearly authored by someone with first-hand experience. Nordberg herself has worked in many humanitarian field operations and the forthcoming handbook was commented by many experts operating in the field. Unlike many similar guides, it lacks extensive review of international human rights legislation. Instead, it provides a practical "toolbox" for police officers, judges and military personnel in EU-led operations.
Finnish long-term objective
The European Union is a community of values, where human rights, rule of law developments and democracy are essential. The same applies to the EU crisis management operations in third countries. Anu Laamanen, Deputy Director General at the Foreign Ministry Political Department, stressed that mainstreaming human rights into crisis management has been one of Finland's long-term targets, for instance during the Finnish EU Presidency in 2006 and when integrating human rights into an EU operation in Aceh for the first time.
The handbook is a part of the same effective continuum. Today all EU missions and operations, currently about 20, include human rights work.
According to Foreign Ministry's Advisor for Security and Development Oskari Eronen, Finnish contribution to human rights and gender expertise in the EU missions is tangible. Eronen mentioned the operation in Somalia as a good example. He believes the handbook will be a good help in training civilian and military personnel in Kuopio, Pori and Tuusula.
Antti Häikiö, Advisor on Crisis Management Training for the Ministry of the Interior said that it is essential to make sure the handbook will be extensively used in training of troops and their every-day work. According to Häikiö, the current EU policy of two hours of human rights training for future members of crisis management operations is not nearly enough. The trouble is that the EU member states are responsible for training their own troops.
Conflicts cannot be understood without acknowledging the human rights perspective
Having returned from EUMMs in Georgia, the Foreign Ministry's Adviser for Rule of Law Merja Lahtinen wanted to make a connection between the handbook's message and the every-day lives of the field personnel and the local population. The background of conflicts cannot be understood without acknowledging the human rights perspective. The every-day problems of the local people, such as getting shelter, water and food or the right to be informed about the decisions taken by the ruling power, are all connected to human rights. The gender issue is not only about women in conflict areas; many young men are subjected to rape and other violence when, for example, held captive.
Unlike many similar guides, the new handbook also addresses the need for promoting the economical, social and cultural rights of the local population, through education, accommodation and health care etc. According to Eronen, every mission is exposed to accommodation and land owning issues.
The handbook is available at the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Copies will be sent to EU crisis management practitioners and other decision-makers interested in human rights issues.
Human Rights and Crisis Management - A handbook for members of CSDP missions (PDF, 696 kB)
Further information: Counsellor Eira Parppei, Unit for Human Rights Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5641