Incentive for Mali’s civil health protections

Leaders of Mali’s former Tuareg and Arab rebel coalition have signed a written pledge to protect civilians, reflecting international efforts to prevent attacks on health facilities, transport and patients during armed conflict. The Covid-19 crisis.

The two leaders signed the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA). The act of commitment Health protection in armed conflict At a closed ceremony organized by a humanitarian organization based in Switzerland Call of Genevaon Friday.

Geneva Call Executive Director Alain Deletroz and two members of the CMA Steering Committee, Ataye Ag Mohamed and Mohamed Elmaoulud Ramadan confirmed their commitment to civil protection. Promissory note, The humanitarian organization said in a statement that the humanitarian dialogue held with the CMA in the last four years in Geneva is at a high level.

Although there are “differences of opinion on certain social issues, the CMA can agree on a document that includes the main principles of international humanitarian law,” Ataye Ag Mohamed said, adding that the coalition benefited from the support and knowledge of the Geneva call.

“The importance of free movement of medical missions and access to population targets, and vice versa, the CMA can contribute somewhat to their protection and humanitarian convoys in Mali and especially in the north of the country,” said Mohamed.

“The signing of this act of commitment marks a new phase of cooperation,” he said. “It is up to all of us to raise awareness and training on this important topic so that it can be widely used in the field.”

The CMA pledges to protect “healthcare personnel, facilities and medical transport, and the injured and sick” and to uphold “the principles of medical ethics”.

Call of Geneva It works to strengthen Protection of civilians during armed conflicts in dozens of countries. The issue of protection for health care workers and facilities has become more critical in conflicts and wars around the world, including in Syria and Ukraine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) last year More than 700 health workers and patients diedIn the year Since December 2017, more than 2000 have been injured in attacks on health facilities in 17 disaster-affected countries and fragile areas. Countries at risk include Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Palestinian Authority, Myanmar and the Central African Republic.

The three-year analysis is based on data Attacks on health care World Health Organization (SSA)Monitors attacks on health care workers, patients, facilities and health care transport, the resources they affect and their immediate impact on health workers and patients.

#MaliTuareg-led rebels in the CMA signed a historic peace deal, but the country remains deeply divided. http://t.co/QaxHtBCHwF pic.twitter.com/hi54mteV1A

— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) June 20, 2015

Working behind the scenes to protect civilians

The Geneva call has an unusual problem of persuading armed groups. And de facto Authorities to respect and implement human rights and regulations.

These include conflict resolution, child protection, education, food security, health care and cultural heritage, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement and humanitarian provision.

A humanitarian organization based in Geneva, he worked in From 2000 to 25 countriesIt enhances civilian protection by strengthening domestic civil society organizations and strengthening awareness of international humanitarian norms.

As a result, some armed groups have set up a body to monitor human rights and human rights, and trained their senior leaders and field commanders to effectively implement these commitments and facilitate the delivery of international humanitarian aid.

The CMA was formed in 2014 as a coalition of political-military movements structured as the MNLA/MAA/HCUA in Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal, Taodeni and Menaka in Mali. In the year In 2015, the CMA signed a peace and reconciliation agreement with the government of Mali in Algiers.

Our team at #Mali He completed a workshop with several armed non-state actors to strengthen cooperation between them and the Geneva Convention and monitor their compliance. #Humanity The Geneva Conventions call for the protection of civilians #collision areas. pic.twitter.com/92s3XNfuNd

— Geneva Call (@genevacall) October 28, 2021

Four years of work in civil protection in Mali

The Geneva Convocation began working in 2018 to improve civilian protection in Mali.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Geneva call has been working to ensure access to health care in Mali and strengthen adherence to humanitarian standards and military codes of conduct.

Two armed groups in Mali have previously pledged to the Geneva-based organization to provide health care and help prevent the spread of the virus.

Deletroz told the signing ceremony that in recent years, attacks on hospitals, medical transport and health workers in conflict zones have increased, paralyzing emergency services and disrupting the local population – taking a heavy toll on the lives of staff and patients, targeting civilians and wounded combatants. Because they are among the most vulnerable.

“Unfortunately, Mali has not survived this trend,” he said. “The deterioration of the security situation has been seen in the people’s access to health facilities and health workers being targeted regularly.”

“It is more important than anything else,” he said, because the document of commitment signed with the CMA represents an important step in the humanitarian dialogue held by the members of the Geneva Call and the coordination of Azawad activities four years ago.

Through the CMA, the coalition has ensured that it improves civilian protection in general and respects health structures and medical missions in particular during armed conflicts. The Canton of Geneva is the legal custodian of the document, the first to be signed with the Geneva Call in Mali since it began operating there.

And through the Geneva call, he said, the organization remains committed to continuing to work with the CMA in accordance with the jointly developed implementation plan.

“Also, we hope that this signing will be an encouragement to all Malian stakeholders who have the role and responsibility of ensuring the protection of civilians,” he said. “The call to Geneva concerns the plight of the people affected by this conflict.”

Image Credits: Call of Geneva.