Off the wire
• Top news items in major Ethiopian media outlets  • SW China province reports two H7N9 cases  • "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" continues to lead Chinese box office  • CPC meeting discusses draft government work report  • Top news items in major Zambian media outlets  • 2nd LD: Iran's Khamenei decries "reconciliation" with Israel, urges resistance  • Former work safety chief sentenced to 15 years in prison for graft  • China plans for cultural relics development  • Hong Kong stocks close 0.76 percent lower  • Foreign exchange rates in Hong Kong  
You are here: 　 Home

AU trains military officers on gender, human rights in Somalia

Xinhua, February 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Tuesday that it has kicked off a three-day training of gender focal persons to help bring the soldiers into line with UN laws on human rights and gender equality.

AMISOM Gender Officer Major Bupe Chanda said the course was aimed at orienting the new officers on their roles as well as coordinating all gender issues in the sectors.

"This is part of capacity building for AMISOM officers and also for the Somali National Army (SNA). We have started with this one, then eventually we will train focal persons for SNA," Chanda said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

The offices from the new battalions that were recently deployed in all the five sectors of Somalia are taking part in the orientation course.

Chanda said the officers being trained would be instrumental in preventing sexual exploitation and abuses in the sectors as well as being ambassadors for AMISOM in their respective areas of operation.

"The main aim of our training is to acquaint the newly nominated gender focal persons in sectors on gender issues and their roles as focal point persons. All sectors are required to have gender focal point persons," Chanda said.

AMISOM Deputy Chief of Staff, Col. Charles Byaruhanga who spoke on behalf of the Force Commander Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh said the main aim of this course is to achieve the call of gender equality which is set in the charter of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325(2000) that is one of the primary and enduring responsibilities of the member states.

"I assure you that all training of gender will be supported by our office," said Byaruhanga.

The training involves newly deployed officers in the five sectors of the country to train them on mainstreaming gender issues. The officers will act as the link between AMISOM headquarters and the sectors. Endit