24. 3. 2022 | POTC, PR
The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) has successfully concluded the Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations Training that took place online from the 21st to the 24th of March 2022.
Participants from several EU countries’ military and police structures have joined trainers from POTC, UN Women, International Committee of the Red Cross, Slovenian Armed Forces, European External Action Service – EEAS, The Slovenian Police and CMC Finland to address gender issues.
We addressed the international legal framework on gender equality with a special focus on EU legislation, the issue of gender concerning human dignity in international operations, and the impact of conflict on gender-related issues. The participants gained insight into concrete situations and issues in experience sharing sessions with experts from the field.
Shared knowledge and skills will enable participants to contribute effectively to sustaining peace by recognizing the experiences and capabilities of women that are contributing to all aspects of peace operations and are vital for building sustainable peace.
As one of the participants put it: “It was a great training on the topic. It’s good that it’s addressed in such context that we really become more conscious.”
24. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
Between 30 March and 1 April 2022 CEP will conduct the second module of the Digital Communications in Civilian Crisis Management training within the scope of the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI). The module will be carried out in a residential format in Georgia. It is designed for the communication experts working in EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia), but also in other international organizations working in the field.
CEP has already delivered the first module of the training in November 2021 in an online format due to the Covid-19 restrictions. According to the participants and trainers, it was a great success. The 3-day long second module, finally happening in person, will strengthen the participants’ already gained knowledge and skills and strive to put them into practice.
Lead experts and practitioners in the field of (digital) communication will among other topics talk about the importance of infographics, visual storytelling, and information verification. There will of course be time for a rhetoric session as well. All this nowadays invaluable knowledge will be tested throughout the training course while participants can also look forward to the grand finale – a simulation exercise.
(Digital) communication, especially in the civilian crisis management environment, can significantly increase credibility, transparency, public support, and trust in the mission. Consequently, this leads to a higher rate of successfully achieved mission mandates.
CEP is proud to be able to contribute to and support the EUCTI project by delivering tailor-made training based on the needs of in-mission personnel.
17. 3. 2022 | EUPCST, PR
Between 14 and 16 March, the members of the EUPCST Evaluation Committee, chaired by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), met in Lisbon, Portugal. Meeting was held at the premises of the National Republican Guard (GNR), national gendarmerie of Portugal.
The main goal of the Evaluation Committee was to gather abundant experience of the GNR in evaluating Comprehensive Live Exercises (CLEs). These exercises intend to build the capacity of police and gendarmerie officers and units who will be fulfilling their roles in international missions. As EUPCST includes the civilian perspective as well, one of the open questions of the meeting was also to find ways to incorporate and integrate civilian and police aspects into one exercise.
Conducting and evaluating such complex exercises that include a big number of participants is both rewarding and challenging. Organizers have an important job of creating intense, realistic and inclusive exercise scenarios, evaluators on the other hand need to be always omnipresent. But the gained knowledge and broad implications for other projects in the fields of peacebuilding, capacity building and civilian crisis management are invaluable.
Covid-19 restrictions limited the scope of EUPCST activities in the previous two years, but the partners are picking up the pace and finishing strong. As the project is nearing its end, there are 26 activities still planned for 2022.
CEP will among other activities continue its important work chairing the Evaluation Committee and will organize a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) in September. We are already looking forward to learning new skills, broaden our network even more and share our knowledge.
14. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
Last week, on 10 March, European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) Secretariat, located at CEP premises at Jable Castle, hosted the first in-person partner meeting. Representatives from seven partner organizations and a representative of EU structures joined us at Jable for a day of intense discussions on the past, present and future of the project activities.
Besides CEP, representatives of ASPR, Clingendael, CMC and ZIF contributed to the discussion in-person. Representatives of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Egmont Institute joined the discussion remotely. The Consortium was also joined by one of its steering group members, the representative of European External Action Service, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI.2).
Head of EUCTI Secretariat, Markko Kallonen, and Head of Peace and Security Programme at CEP, Nina Čepon, opened the meeting. Busy agenda included project updates from partners, working groups developments, brainstorming ideas for 3rd country activities, goals and plans for 2022 training delivery and discussion on the future of the project. In the end many open questions were balanced out by new ideas for the visibility and broadened scope of our project. But most importantly by the reignited commitment of all partners to the success of the project and wish to continue with the important work.
We at CEP are already looking forward to the next partner meeting. Until then we will continue with our activities, with the first one happening soon, in the end of March. More will follow!
9. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
The Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is proud to host the Secretariat of the European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI). EUCTI is a three-year long project (2021-2023) which is co-funded by the European Union, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI.2), instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, Conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and crisis preparedness component.
EUCTI’s main objective is to provide need-based training courses for experts working in international organisations and missions active in the field of civilian crisis management worldwide. Course topics vary and aim at enhancing knowledge and skills of the deployed personnel. This, in turn, will help the organisations in delivering their mandates which, ultimately, will improve the living conditions of the conflict-affected people.
During the first project year, we dedicated time to develop concepts and frameworks to allow sound planning of the upcoming training activities (e.g., on evaluation and on methodology and standardization) in cooperation with seven other EUCTI partners. Furthermore, EUCTI contacted several important stakeholders in the field of civilian crisis management (all EU CSDP missions, EU Delegations, UN, AU and OSCE headquarters and several related missions to name some). EUCTI successfully delivered five training courses; 57 participants (32 females and 25 males) from 22 countries benefited directly from our activities. On top of that, we believe that many other people have indirectly gained new knowledge and expertise related to civilian crisis management thanks to EUCTI.
Check out the video below for the highlights of our work in 2021!
8. 3. 2022 | POTC, PR
The Peace Operations Training Centre – POTC is organizing an online training on Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations for police and military personnel who plan to join international peace operations or missions. The training will take place online in the period from the 21th to the 24th of March 2022.
Violent conflict disproportionately affects women and girls and intensifies pre-existing gender inequalities and discrimination. But women are also active agents of peace in armed conflict although their role as key players and agents of peace is still poorly recognized. Acknowledging and integrating different understanding, experiences and capabilities of women into all aspects of peace operations is essential for the success of any peacekeeping efforts and for sustaining peace.
The course’s online lectures, workshops and participatory activities will cover the basic topics from gender equality and mainstreaming in peacekeeping to peacebuilding environments. Participants will gain skills and knowledge that will help them engage all possible stakeholders regarding gender equality and include the perspectives of women in their efforts to build sustainable peace.
As there are several vacant seats still available in the online training, we encourage everyone interested to apply here regardless of the application deadline. Contact [email protected] for any additional questions you might have.
