IHL training

In order to effectively implement respect for IHL commitments within a business, it is important to train business personnel so that they have the knowledge and capacity to comply with, and leverage, IHL. Ensuring that people understand their rights and responsibilities under IHL – in peaceful regions as well as areas experiencing conflict – means that personnel can refer to and leverage this knowledge to minimise risks for themselves and for others. It also helps to reduce the reputational and legal risks associated with personnel who fail to comply with IHL.

Questions to consider

• Do induction programs for new personnel include an IHL module for those that work in, or may come into contact with operations or third parties operating in, conflict zones?
• Does your business have the resources or expertise necessary to be able to identify conflict and IHL-related risks?
• Are company directors and senior management cognisant of the potential IHL violations that could be committed by your business or its third-party partners?

Example of good or best practice

• All senior management, and any supervisors and personnel working in conflict-affected areas, have completed IHL training in addition to human rights training.

Australian Red Cross has an online training portal with training modules for businesses.

Australian Red Cross and RMIT University have also developed a simulation-based module, ‘War, Law and Business: A Module on IHL for Future Business Leaders’, which places ‘players’ in the shoes of a CEO of a fictitious company to help them gain or improve awareness of IHL in an engaging and interactive way.

Get free and direct access to “War, Law and Business: IHL for Future Business Leaders” here, or watch the teaser trailer for the module below.