Members of the National Assembly have been trained on international humanitarian law and its application in the country. The one day workshop was chaired by the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndam, on July 7, at the National Assembly.
Explaining what international humanitarian law is, Hon. Mbah Ndam said, the world has instituted rules and regulations to help in the situation of crisis, so a person who is shot and wounded during a war has the right to be attended to. The Red Cross has the right to get to the war front at any time and must not be treated as enemies.
Hon Mbah further mentioned that any fighting person or countries that violate the right of the Red Cross, the right of the victim and helpless civilians are sanctioned by international law.
According to him the seminar is very timely. “We have been hearing what has been happening to refugees from the Central Africa Republic, CAR; we are hearing of the disturbance from the Boko Haram and people are suffering because of terrorism. Therefore, the people’s representative has to know what laws apply in circumstances. This seminar will enable us handle victims of these situations well and know the importance of the Red Cross when emergencies come up.
Meanwhile, the Head of Regional Delegation for Central Africa of the international Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC Thomas Merkelbach, said his delegation would work together with parliamentarians to put in place international law treaties Cameroon signed. “We want these treaties to be translated into national legislative. Our purpose is to trained them so that they can defend, vote and make sure that the laws are applied. We want Cameroon to be commended not just for rectifying treaties but also making them operational,” he asserted.
The International Committee for Red Cross, ICRC, is the founder of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement that is represented in humanitarian networks in the world. Created in 1863, it is celebrating its 150 years with its overall aim of ensuring that war or conflict victims are better protected and respected. It was created in Yaounde since 1992. The regional delegation of ICRC of Central Africa covers six countries Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome principle.
The workshop dwelled on the national state of ratification and the implementation of international humanitarian law in Cameroon. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, seeks to protect and assist war victims according to the international humanitarian law.
