Yesterday, April 4th 2019, Defense Secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced that the Ministry of Defence would establish a Centre of Excellence for Human Security.
Speaking just after an exercise at the army training base on Salisbury Plain, which demonstrated how UK forces try to protect civilians in a conflict zone, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“In modern warfare there is no ‘front line’ and the sad reality is that innocent bystanders are in harm’s way in conflicts around the world. Protecting civilians from human rights violations is as much a military task as defeating the enemy.
This new Centre of Excellence will build on the amazing work already being done by the UK, from our Human Security courses launched last year to the training we provide peacekeepers on preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict.”
It was said in the announcement that the Centre of Excellence would build on the success of the Human Security Advisers course and deliver expanded training on Women, Peace and Security, Children and Armed Conflict, Human Trafficking, Protection of Civilians, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Cultural Property Protection.
This new centre is reported to be “the next step to ensuring militaries from around the world better integrate UN Security Council Resolutions linked to human security into military planning and conduct of operations.”
The Centre of Excellence will be funded from a new Human Security budget, with running costs expected to amount to around £2m a year.
Did you find this story interesting? Please support AOAV's work and donate.
Donate