In its resolve and commitment to improving compliance with International Human Rights Law and the Law of Armed Conflict, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 23 September 2019, commenced 5-day Workshop on Human Rights and the Legal Aspects of Air Targeting at the NAF Officers’ Mess, Kado, Abuja.
The 5-day workshop, which is being held in conjunction with the Defence Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), is to further upgrade participants’ knowledge on the rules and processes of target selection and prioritization as well as matching appropriate response, taking cognizance of command responsibilities and operational requirements. They are also expected to be further enlightened on how to more effectively apply the law against torture and gender violence (human rights) Air Commodore Ibdikunle Daramola stated on Monday, 23rd September 2019.
Speaking while declaring the 5-day workshop open, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, emphasized that such Workshops on the Law of Armed Conflict and other legal issues were of critical importance to NAF operations.
He disclosed that the training was being held according to the resolutions of the 2019 Edition of the NAF Legal Officers’ Retreat which highlighted the need to continually sensitize NAF personnel directly involved in ongoing operations, on compliance with International Human Rights Law and the Law of Armed Conflict.
While commending the leadership of the DIILS and Government of the United States of America (USA), Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the Workshop was undeniable proof of the fact that the USA is a dependable development partner of Nigeria. Additionally, the CAS pointed out that several NAF officers had benefited from training opportunities offered by the DIILS. According to him, the latest of such pieces of training was the course on Legal Aspects of Defence Support of Civil Authority conducted between 17 July and 8 August 2019.
In his remarks, the representative of the DIILS, Mr Garrett Vanpelt, thanked the NAF for the opportunity to provide professional legal education.