Security & Defense – France, the UN and the OIF train instructors for French-speaking contingents in UN peacekeeping operations (31 January 2019)
France, the UN and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) are committed to increasing the preparedness level of French-speaking contingents deployed in UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs). Indeed, half of PKOs operate in French-speaking areas of the world.
For the fourth consecutive year, France is hosting from January 21 to February 1, 2019, a UN training of trainers course for senior officers of countries providing UN peacekeepers. These sessions are aimed at guaranteeing uniformity in training for contingents from different backgrounds and at facilitating these countries’ engagement in peacekeeping operations. They will also help ensure that national pre-deployment training programs are consistent with UN standards.
A class of 39 military trainees from partner countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, South Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Peru, DRC, Senegal, Switzerland, Chad, Togo and Tunisia) will therefore be trained by a UN team in PKO staff procedures. This training course will focus on operational issues (structures and functioning of PKOs, planning, crisis management, etc.), ethical and professional issues (international humanitarian law, standards of behavior during operations, etc.), as well as other cross-cutting issues relating to peacekeeping and peacebuilding (“women, peace and security,” protection of children, etc.).
In total, more than 160 trainees have received training since 2016. The closing ceremony will take place at the OIF headquarters on February 1 at 2.30 pm.