ECOWAS Court Partners with ICRC for Specialized Training on International Humanitarian Law

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has initiated a one-day training workshop aimed at enhancing judicial understanding and application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The training, hosted at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, brought together approximately 30 Court staff to deepen their knowledge and skills in handling cases involving IHL.

Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio  Monteiro Gonçalves, President of the Court, commended the humanitarian values and actions of the ICRC in aiding those affected by war or living in conflict zones. In his welcome speech, read by the Chief Registrar of the Court, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, he assured the ICRC of the ECOWAS Court’s commitment to supporting their efforts by leveraging international and humanitarian law to safeguard victims of conflicts in West Africa.

Dr. Ouro-Sama also expressed gratitude to the ICRC for organizing the training, noting that, given the Court’s role in addressing issues related to human rights and justice, the workshop was particularly relevant in light of ongoing challenges such as terrorism and internal conflicts in some ECOWAS Member States. He added that the workshop would help the Court’s judges and staff enhance their understanding of the vital principles governing the protection of individuals during armed conflicts.

Welcoming participants to the workshop, Mr. Yann Bonzon, Head of ICRC Delegation in Nigeria, said the gathering underscored his organization’s commitment to deepening understanding of IHL and enhancing its role within the judicial mechanisms that serve the people of the ECOWAS region.

The workshop comprised four sessions. In the first session, Lou-Salomé Sorlin, Regional Legal Advisor for the ICRC, discussed the principles, purpose, origins, sources and basic rules of IHL, as well as the role of the ICRC.

The second session, lead by Mr. Zarvan R. Owsia, Coordinator of the Armed and Security Forces Program (FAS), explored IHL rules regulating the use of force in hostilities.

In the third session, Mrs. Iris Mueller, Operational Legal Coordinator, addressed the concept of detention in armed conflicts. She discussed the legal framework protecting detainees in armed conflict, including treatment and conditions of detention, grounds and procedures, and the transfer of detainees from one authority to another.

The final session focused on IHL and counterterrorism, examining the interaction between IHL principles and counter-terrorism measures. Participants also applied the concepts reviewed in a case study involving a fictitious country, highlighting the delicate boundaries between IHL, International Human Rights Law and domestic law. Participants also applied the concepts reviewed in a case study involving a fictitious country, highlighting the delicate boundaries between IHL, International Human Rights Law and domestic law.

This training builds on a previous workshop held on 6-7 March 2019, reflecting the ongoing commitment of both the ECOWAS Court and the ICRC to reinforce judicial capacity in areas where IHL is increasingly relevant.

Although the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has not yet explicitly referenced IHL in its decisions, it regularly addresses cases concerning human rights violations, some of which touch upon IHL principles. Given the ongoing conflicts in the ECOWAS region, the training sought to build capacity for judges and court staff to apply IHL, where applicable, alongside human rights law, reinforcing the Court’s ability to uphold the rights and dignity of individuals across ECOWAS Member States.