Event

Regional Workshop on the Protection of Civilians

15-16 July 2010
Venue: ParkRoyal Hotel, Singapore

The ASEAN region has in recent history faced many types of emergencies and crisis situations, ranging from internal conflicts to natural disasters. Whether it be the conflict in southern Thailand, Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines or post-conflict challenges in Aceh, humanitarian emergencies often result in widespread displacement, increased gender based violence and unanticipated health and security challenges. Consequently, it becomes especially important to question the protection of populations during this period. How well are state and non-state actors able to cope with protecting civilians not just during peace time, but also during such humanitarian emergencies?

It is with these issues in mind that the RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organise a regional workshop on the protection of civilians (POC). To be held from 15 to 16 July at the ParkRoyal Hotel Singapore, the workshop will gather over 50 participants including scholars, practitioners, members of civil society and international organisations, to examine the protection situation of particularly vulnerable and marginalised populations in the region, such as women, children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants and the stateless. It is envisioned that key policy recommendations from this workshop will emerge, specifically addressing the most pressing regional protection concerns, such as trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse and domestic violence.

The workshop is one of the many activities conducted under the Centre’s Internal and Cross-Border Conflict programme, which concentrates its research areas on the following core topics: (1) analysis of the dynamics of internal conflicts in the region; (2) protection of civilians; (3) the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP); (4) mulit-level and multilateral approaches to internal conflict; and (5) security sector governance.

For more information on the workshop, kindly refer to the programme here.

For any other queries, please contact Ms Cheryl Lim at ischeryllim@ntu.edu.sg.