15. 5. 2025 | Peace and security, POTC, PR, Security
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR “Comprehensive Protection of Civilians (CPoC) Training” IS NOW OPEN (CLICK HERE) – deadline August 3rd, 2025
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This autumn, POTC is organising its UN-certified Comprehensive Protection of Civilians (CPoC) Training. The training will be held at Jable Castle, Mengeš, from 6 – 10 October.
The Comprehensive Protection of Civilians (CPoC) Training focuses on the protection of civilians (PoC) by addressing the responsibilities of states, international organisations, and other actors to safeguard individuals, particularly non-combatants, from harm during armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other forms of violence. PoC includes shielding individuals from physical violence, forced displacement, sexual violence, and denial of essential resources and services. The principles of PoC are rooted in international humanitarian and human rights laws and are vital for upholding human dignity during conflicts and crises. The training is primarily designed for police and civilian personnel, including decision-makers, members of non-governmental organisations and individual civilian experts, who are to be deployed to international missions and operations or who are working in civilian crisis management, with no prior knowledge or skills in preventing or responding to violence against civilians.
The working language of the training is English, and participants are expected to be fluent in English (C1 level or higher). The aim of the training is for the participants to understand the conceptual, legal and operational framework in protection of civilians, and to provide the participants with understanding of PoC practice in UN (and EU) missions and operations, effective tools used in practice, skills and knowledge for working in missions with a PoC mandate, understanding of the basic legal framework and documents, understanding the connection between climate change and security and an understanding of UN, EU and NATO operational concepts for PoC.
The residential part of the course will take place between 6 and 10 October 2025 at Jable Castle in Loka pri Mengšu, Slovenia. Participants will also have to complete the mandatory e-learning modules prior to arriving in Slovenia. Attendance is free of charge for all selected participants. The POTC will also cover: – local transport costs between the airport and the hotel; – local transport between the hotel and the course venue; – lunch, beverages and other refreshments provided during the training course at Jable Castle; – additional financial support is available for up to 10 international participants – see more in the information pack.
More information can be found in the Information Pack. A tentative course programme will be made available a few weeks prior to the training activity.
Participants can apply to the course through the registration form via this link. The selected participants will be notified roughly a week after the application deadline.
For any additional questions, feel free to send us a message at: [email protected]
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24. 2. 2025 | HEAT, Peace and security, POTC, PR
The winter edition of the Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), organised by the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) under the aegis of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), was successfully delivered at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from February 16th to February 21st, 2025.
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This comprehensive training programme aimed to equip civilians deployed in peace missions and operations abroad with the necessary skills to navigate potentially dangerous working conditions and hazardous situations.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including threat awareness, medical help, orientation, communications, and mobility. Participants engaged in both classroom sessions and practical field exercises, such as 4×4 driving, evacuation planning, and stress management. The course also addressed critical areas like awareness of weapons, mines, and unexploded ordnance (UXOs), as well as kidnap analysis and hostage survival techniques.
The highlight of the training was the Thursday simulation exercise, which allowed participants to apply the knowledge they had gained throughout the week. These scenarios encompassed various challenges that might be encountered in conflict areas, providing a hands-on learning experience that is invaluable for those working in high-risk environments.
The training would not have been possible without the dedication of representatives from the Slovenian Police and Armed Forces and the participation of a diverse group of background players. The staff of the training centre also made sure that the training ran smoothly and aided us when needed.
Overall, HEAT 2025 was a success, empowering participants with the tools and confidence needed to operate effectively in hostile environments. We wish the participants the best of luck in their future endeavours.
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29. 11. 2024 | Enter: Change, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth
30 November, Mengeš – We are delighted to announce the first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, which will take place from 8 to 13 December in Portorož, Slovenia. The event is titled ‘BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change’, and is dedicated to fostering young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The forum will bring together 14 young leaders for a dynamic five-day program.
The activities will focus on discussions of challenges in the Western Balkans, the rule of law and democracy, strategic communication and combating misinformation, diversity and inclusion, and a workshop on youth political engagement. The forum aims to provide a platform for skill development, networking, dialogue, and empowering young leaders from BiH to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
The forum will among others, include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Ms Melania Arreaga, and former Slovenian President, Mr Borut Pahor.
The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.
29. 11. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
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Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) successfully delivered “Gender Mainstreaming in UN Peace Operations and Missions” training, which took place between 18 and 28 November 2024. A comprehensive 10-day training was specifically designed for 22 Mongolian Armed Forces personnel, with the aim of empowering Mongolian peacekeepers as advocates for gender equality and human rights.
The programme focused on valuable field-based insights into gender dynamics, conflict-related sexual violence, and strategies for promoting gender equality within peace missions and operations settings. The participants engaged in expert-led lectures and hands-on exercises aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the critical role gender plays in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Besides topics on gender mainstreaming, participants put additional focus on the various teaching methods and techniques used during the training, with the aim of further transferring the knowledge gained to their colleagues back home in Mongolia.
The training was delivered with the support of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission, organised in the framework of the project marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and Mongolia. POTC would also like to express its gratitude to motivated and dedicated participants, as well as to all the valuable contributions of the trainers, including experts from the CoESPU and UN Women.
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11. 11. 2024 | PR, Regional cooperation
Between 5 and 8 November 2024 CEP supported Government Information Security Office of the Republic of Slovenia (URSIV) in organizing a “New Technologies and Cybersecurity” training at the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) in Podgorica, gathering 18 cybersecurity experts from public institutions of the Western Balkan countries for an intensive training.
The aim of the training was to strengthen participants’ understanding of new technological tools that can significantly enhance cybersecurity frameworks within their institutions, ensuring a proactive approach to emerging cyber threats. Participants explored the deployment of three cutting-edge technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and honeypots.
Nine Slovenian experts shared their insights on various aspects of these technologies and their role in cybersecurity, covering topics such as AI governance, cryptographic advancements, and the use of honeypots as threat intelligence tools.
