KIGALI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DECLARATION COMMAND POST EXERCISE – “AFRICA UNiTE” 2013

{{KIGALI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DECLARATION COMMAND POST EXERCISE – “AFRICA UNiTE” 2013}}

1. {{Introduction}}

From On July 8-12, 2013, Rwanda National Police (RNP) will host a continental Command Post Exercise (CPX) code named “UNiTE AFRICA; campaign to end Violence against Women and Girls-2013,” to be held at its General Headquarters in Kigali.

A total of 172 participants from 54 African countries, who include security personnel and participants from Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations, are expected to participate.

2. {{BACKGROUND}}

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a global phenomenon across societies worldwide.

It is a violation of human rights and a major problem as has been stated by different global leaders including the UN Secretary General (UN SG), H.E Ban Ki-Moon. In response to the call by the UN SG in the “Africa UNiTE Campaign to end VAWG,” which he launched in January 2010, the Kigali International Conference for Africa’s security organs was held in Kigali-Rwanda in October 2010 and concluded with proclamation of a 14-point Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) signed by Police Chiefs or their representatives .

A follow up international conference (KICD AGM) on the role of security organs in ending VAWG was held in Bujumbura- Burundi in November 2012 in which 31 African Countries, UN agencies, African union, COMESA, among others, participated .

This conference culminated into, among other things, the establishment of the KICD permanent secretariat in Kigali, Rwanda for coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the KICD initiatives.

The launch of the KICD secretariat in Kigali, also to be named “Africa’s Security Organs Centre for Coordination of Action to end Violence Against Women and Girls (AFSOCCA-VAWG) was held on May 23, 2013 and was presided over by the UN Secretary General H.E Ban Ki-Moon. During this launch, 20 African countries’ Security Organs were represented

The KICD conforms with the UN resolution 1325 and other Regional and International instruments that bring to the fore efforts to curb VAWG.
Other Activities done in the context of the KICD so far include:

• A regional capacity building workshop conducted in Kigali, Rwanda in 2011 under the theme “Africa Region Security Organs Capacity Building Workshop on VAWG: Prevention, Response and Peacekeeping.”

• Development of a training manual on the role of security organs in ending VAWG

• Africa Security Organs annual Review Meeting organized in Dec 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda

• KICD Website (www.kicgenderconference.org) has been launched
In pursuant to the KICD point No.13 that calls upon Africa’s Security Organs to do joint exercises geared at ending VAWG, and in order to continue to take concrete measures in ending VAWG, the Government of Rwanda through its security organs championed by the Rwanda National Police, has partnered with the One UN in Rwanda to:

• Draft a protocol on AFSOCCA-VAWG for African countries to deliberate and adopt as legal enforcement to KICD, make a five-year strategic plan and draw a road map of activities for Africa’s Security Organs in ending VAWG.

• Organize an all-Africa security organs’ Command Post Exercise (CPX) code named “Africa UNiTE” aimed at improving and harmonizing approach to ending VAWG, a Peaceful, post conflict and conflict situations.

The Exercise is scheduled to take place from 8th to 12th July 2013 at the Rwanda National Police Head Quarters in Kigali.

3. {{Exercise rationale (Justification):}}

VAWG remains probably the most highly committed and grave offence in conflict and post conflict situations where rape is often used as a weapon of war.

It has been estimated that at least one in every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime .

In addition, four women are murdered each day worldwide by an intimate male partner .

In spite of the overwhelmingly negative consequences on individuals and societies, it is often sanctified by customs and reinforced by institutions that limit women’s rights, their decision- making power and their recourse to protection from violence.

Addressing VAWG remains a serious and formidable problem both to the national law enforcement organs, Government Organizations (GOs), NGOs and other stakeholders.

It is even more challenging to law enforcement in Peace keeping and Peace enforcement missions in Post conflict countries. Contributing factors include, but are not limited to;

• Lack of understanding of the nature of VAWG, its forms, magnitude and effects;

• Lack of experience in dealing with the scourge and its overwhelming state in post conflict countries;

• Lack of legal framework and limited application of the legal framework where they exist;

• Lack of/limited use of Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) in advancing the multidisciplinary response to VAWG, cultural aspects, diversity and;

• complexity of post conflict situations which interweave gender related violence with emerging crimes to mention but a few.

Notwithstanding the previous Peace Support Operations capacity building initiatives implemented in the past focus on routine Peace Support duties, emphasis has not been given to the role of PSOs in ending VAWG.

Just to mention some former CPX, Command Post Exercice code named ‘EX AMANI’- 2008, had the aim of demonstrating the capacity of the deployable Brigade Headquarters and Planning Element to conduct strategic and operational Planning and preparation for multi-dimensional operations and to exercise command and control of deployed forces, on a simulated UN and AU mandated PSO, in order to confirm the Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) of the Brigade Headquarter and PLANELM Mechanisms.

The Field Training Exercise code named ‘EX AMANI CARANA’-2009, had the aim of exercising EASF on the complexity of contemporary multi-dimensional PSO in line with ASF Development Plan.

The Command Post Exercise code named ‘AMANI EASTERN AFRICA’ 2011 had the aim of training EASF structures to plan and execute an AU mandated EASF multidimensional Peace Support Operations based on AU Scenario 4.

4. {{AIM of CPX “Africa UNiTE”: }}

Improve the perceptions of dimensions of VAWG and strengthen the capacities of Africa’s security organs in detecting and responding to the scourge both at home and during Peace Support Operations

5. {{General Objective}}:

To introduce an anti-GBV wing – Isange One Stop Centre – to provide free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to the victims, as a model to African countries where it does not exist, with view to fostering the latter to holistically respond to the threat of VAWG in conflict, post conflict situations and home settings.

6. {{Specific Objectives}}

a. To provide gender sensitive training to law enforcement personnel of the African continent;

b. To enhance awareness of the different dimensions of VAWG in different settings;

c. To inform the development of Standard Operation Practices (SOPs) in ending VAWG.

d. To share best practices in ending VAWG

7. {{Expected outcomes}}

1. Enhanced capacity among Africa Security Organs to effectively prevent and respond to VAWG through a holistic approach;

2. Harmonized practices and procedures in ending VAWG in Africa

8. {{Exercise Process:}}

The activity will be held for 5 days and conducted in three phases including the theoretical training, the practical exercises and the after action review.

a. {{Training}}

The first phase will be a three-day theoretical training aimed at enhancing awareness VAWG and international and regional legal instruments protecting women and girls against violence. The training will also address PSO mission preparedness from a gender sensitive perspective.

The training session will also be a forum for sharing best practices in addressing VAWG and victims’ support and management using a holistic approach.

It is also envisaged that participants will have brief session on the draft Protocol for AFSOCCA-VAWG.

b. {{Practical Exercise }}

The second phase will be a practical exercise drawn from the theoretical lessons. Officers will form into groups with different role plays.

They will receive injects developed from different scenarios on VAWG and react to those injects using the tools acquired from training and other provisions.

c. {{After Action Review}}

The exercise will be evaluated, lessons drawn and recommendations made to enhance mechanisms of ending VAWG in home settings and peace support operations.

9. {{Participants:}}

Participants will be members of security organs from all African countries -each represented by three officers (One officer from the Military, Police and the Correctional services/Prisons).

10. {{Trainers:}}

The trainers will be from Rwanda National Police, UN Rwanda, UNoPK, EASFCOM and other AU Regional Peace and Security arrangements, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), INTERPOL-THB desk and other stakeholders.

11. {{Observers:}}

Observers will include gender perspective component of: UN, AU, EAPCCO, SAPCCO, CAPCCO, WAPCCO, ECOWAS, ECCAS, SADC, COMESA, EAC and gender sensitive organizations including CSW and other interested partners.

12. Location: The exercise will be conducted at the Rwanda National Police Headquarters in Kigali.

13. Exercise Construct: It will be elaborated in a separate document and within the training sessions.