IHL Training for the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross has conducted a training session on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for representatives of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. During the session, participants gained insight into the fundamentals of IHL, including its history, sources, and the specific ways it is applied during times of armed conflict.

Raising awareness of this branch of public international law, which governs the conduct of war, is especially relevant given the current full-scale war in Ukraine.

Deputy Minister Oksana Osmachko and the heads of structural departments of the Ministry attended the training, which was delivered by Ukrainian Red Cross volunteer IHL trainers Khrystyna Duda and Anna Tishchenko. The following topics were discussed in detail during the event:

• The basic principles of International Humanitarian Law
• The protection of civilians under IHL
• State and individual responsibility for violations related to armed conflict
• The application of IHL norms in the decision-making processes of public officials

Participants noted that IHL issues have become a priority area of focus, as the agricultural sector and food systems suffer significant losses during armed conflicts. Crops are destroyed, livestock are killed, and access to water and food is disrupted, putting millions of people at risk of starvation. Additionally, large areas of agricultural land are contaminated with landmines. For this reason, knowledge of international humanitarian law as it relates to food security is particularly important for professionals working in the agricultural sector.

This IHL training was among the first joint initiatives following the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Ukrainian Red Cross and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. In line with its statutory mandate to promote awareness of IHL, the Ukrainian Red Cross continues to support public authorities and plays a key role in the implementation of IHL at the national level.