Between 15 and 17 September, the Centre for European Perspective conducted an online pilot training on the Protection of Cultural Heritage in EU missions and operations.
The training was designed for a wide range of participants who will be deployed to EU international missions and operations in third countries in the near future. Following the conclusion of the pilot training, all content and participating lecturers will be assessed and evaluated. Based on the conclusions of the evaluation, the content and structure of the training will be standardized and permanently available to participants from EU Member States.
The protection of cultural heritage is increasingly on the agenda of international organizations as well as relevant European Union bodies. In June, the EU Council adopted its conclusions, which also declared the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage among the European External Action Service’s foreign policy priorities. Based on coordination with European partners and a preliminary needs analysis prepared by the Center for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of Italian Carabinieri, the Center for European Perspective designed a new training course and recently conducted a pilot training. Throughout the training, participants were familiarised with various forms of cultural heritage and differing factors threatening cultural heritage. The participants were acquainted with the international legal framework that provides the legal basis for the protection of cultural heritage sites in crisis areas, learned about basic approaches and tools for fieldwork and concrete experiences of civilian and military representatives in EU missions and operations who were responsible for the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage during previous deployments.
The three-day training was conducted in English. It was attended by representatives of ten European countries; Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands and Slovenia. The participants held varying degrees of previous experience with the topic of the training. Some were introduced to the topic for the first time, while others already had previous experiences with the protection of cultural heritage and attended the training to deepen their knowledge. Participants were active, and the online training format did not represent a significant barrier for participants.
Based on the evaluations of the participating lecturers, participants, and our own evaluation, we are convinced that the pilot training was a great success. The participants praised the experience of the lecturers and the contents of the training being based on concrete information from the field. Based on the feedback future trainings will be carried out in a similar manner to the pilot training.
After successfully delivered two training courses on Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in peace operations and missions (November 2020 and May 2021), Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is further actively involved in empowering women in the field of peace and security. From 14 to 17 September 2021, a series of online workshops on Negotiation techniques and women empowerment was carried out by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in coordination with CEP and with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
This series of workshops were organized for representatives of the Venezuelan democratic forces who will directly or indirectly participate in international negotiations, mediation, and conflict resolution processes. The program consisted of ground-setting and advanced workshops, where the participants examined the particularities of and advantages for women’s involvement in conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation processes, analyse negotiation process from a gender perspective (including the analysis of strategies, methods, techniques for negotiation, communication, and influence), and conducted practical exercises to practice the application of various negotiation components.
With the newly acquired knowledge in the field of negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution, will the representatives of the Venezuelan democratic forces, be able to actively participate in these processes and thus increase the representation of women in these areas and bring challenges faced by women in times of humanitarian crises and conflicts to the peace agreements.
Virtual workshop on negotiation techniques and women´s empowerment continues the activities of Centre for European Perspective – CEP, aimed at the empowerment of women that began within the Peace Operations Training Centre and EUPCST project.
The activities are supported by Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and carried out together with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) .
Protection of cultural heritage encompasses numerous issues ranging from regular maintenance to natural catastrophes and armed conflicts. Its importance led the EU to add cultural heritage protection to the tasks of the Common Security and Defence Policy missions as it can mean relevant support to the goals of missions, especially if provided for in the mission mandate.
In light of the growing importance of cultural heritage protection in an operational environment, the Centre for European Perspective is organising the pilot edition of the Online Training on Cultural Heritage Protection. The training will take place in the period from the 15th to the 17th of September 2021.
The online lectures, workshops and participatory activities will cover the basic topics and will ensure all participants understand what cultural heritage protection entails, its international legal framework, relevant institutions dealing with protection globally; what the basic instruments and methods for the protection of cultural heritage are and how the EU’s approach looks on the ground.
Following a successful pilot training organised in 2020, the Centre for European Perspective is organising an online training on Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations.
The Peace Operations Training Centre, operating within CEP with the support of the European Union Police and Civilian Services Training, has successfully concluded the Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations Training that took place from the 18 to the 20 of May 2021.
Members of Police forces from 12 European countries addressed the international legal framework on gender equality with a special focus on EU legislation, the issue of gender in relation to human dignity in international operations, impact of conflict on gender-related issues and gained insight into concrete situations and issues in experience sharing sessions with experts from the field.
The training on gender equality was in high demand and 29 participants altogether successfully completed the course. They gained different insights, but all agreed that the training was a success:
“This was my first online training. Easy and nice! From the learning perspective it is as effective as sitting in the old fashion class-room.”
“The discussions made me realize some actions that I and others do. I reflected on how it impacts on others and how this has a rippling effect. It was good to hear it from the perspective of women. I am now in a process of looking at some of my behaviors.”
“Thanks a lot to have the possibility to take part in this training. I will start my next mission in a couple of weeks, and I feel very well prepared in gender related topics.”
“As a trainer I always have opportunity to listen to similar content, but nevertheless this was a really good course with new information which I will use at my work.”
Following a successful pilot training organised in 2020, the Centre for European Perspective is organising an online training on Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations. The training will take place in the period from the 18th to the 20th of May 2021.
The online lectures, workshops and participatory activities will cover the basic topics regarding gender equality and mainstreaming. Participants will gain skills and knowledge that will help them engage all stakeholders regarding gender equality and include the perspectives of women in their efforts to build sustainable peace.
The Online Training will be carried out by the Peace Operations Training Centre operating within CEP with the support of the European Union Police and Civilian Services Training.
Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) organized a Pre-deployment Training for Civilian Personnel Joining the EUAM Ukraine and EUMM Georgia from 20 – 23 April 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the training was delivered in a virtual form.
Pre-deployment trainings aim to increase the functioning ability of the mission staff by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to become operational and capable to adapt to the new working environment. This pre-deployment training was designed specifically for civilians that are about to be deployed either to the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM) or the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).
The training provided an overview of the local environment and historical context of both countries, thoroughly presented both missions, prepared the trainees for an interview, explained the basics of orientation, and equipped the participants with gender lenses together with skills for successful trainers, mentoring, monitoring and advising. Many thanks to all the trainers.
Although virtual trainings bring different challenges we are certain that our participants will be prepared to embark on assigned responsibilities with confidence and adapt to complex mission life. All the best of luck to all of them!
Virtual workshop on negotiation techniques and women´s empowerment continues the activities of Centre for European Perspective – CEP, aimed at the empowerment of women that began within the Peace Operations Training Centre and EUPCST project.
The activities are supported by Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and carried out together with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) .
