To ensure standards in protection of individuals, groups: FPS, partners strengthen capacities of human rights workers.

The training course, which began Monday April 29, and will end on Friday May 3, is being staged by the Foundation for Peace and Solidarity, FPS, in collaboration with Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, and IRIC. 

The training has been funded by the European Union, EU, within the framework of the EU Civilian Training Initiative, EUCTI. 

The workshop was officially launched Tuesday April 29 by the Deputy Director of IRIC, Prof Stephane Ngwanza, on behalf of IRIC’s Director, Ndongo Daniel Urbain. 

The ceremony was attended by the EU Ambassador to Cameroon, Jean Marc Chataigner, and the representative of Sant’Anna, Prof De Guttry.

In his launching remark, Prof Ngwanza described the training course as special as it shows their attachment to the promotion of human rights. 

While highlighting the relevance of such important training, the IRIC official acknowledged the multistakeholder engagement of the different partners. 

He also noted with optimism that training and capacity building, international solidary and concerned actions are key in consolidating what the country has achieved this far in terms of right human rights.  

On his part, the EU Ambassador, Jean Marc Chataigner, outlined a series of efforts made by the EU towards promoting inclusivity. 

“We are doing a lot in Cameroon for refugees, displaced persons, education and so it’s a major work we are doing together with the government of Cameroon,’ Chataigner added.

Enter FPS official 

Speaking during the ceremony, the FPS Public Relations Officer, Bekondo Mac Courage, explained that the overall objective is to enhance the aptitudes of participants working as human rights experts in civilian crisis management missions. 

“It will notably promote an in-depth understanding of the tasks to be performed as well as enhance experts’ skills and attitudes to fulfill their roles,” she added.

Bekondo further explained that the training course will conspicuously contribute to equipping the experts to overcome challenges of applying human rights techniques in the framework of a civilian crisis management mandate.

She equally used the opportunity to applaud the different partners like IRIC, EU, and the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies for accepting to partner with them in this initiative.  

The participants are being trained on human rights investigation; principles and rule governing the conduct of human rights officers; interviewing and reporting techniques; psycho-social assistance and trauma awareness; collecting, assessing and handling information; international human rights laws; regional bodies and mechanism for protection of human rights amongst other modules. 

About FPS

FPS is an organisation with about 20 years of experience in project management, peace education, and international training. 

For over 12 years, the foundation organised and co-delivered programmes with focus on human rights, peace support operations for civilians, election management, and refugee protection amongst others. 

The principal aim of FPS is to promote a culture of peace, human rights, democratic governance, and solidarity through capacity building, advocacy, research, and empowerment.