الإجراءات المتخذة:
The ECOWAS Commission held Annual Review Meetings of the ECOWAS Regional Network of National Focal Institutions on Implementation of International Humanitarian Laws (RNNI-IHL) (comprised of Member States Focal institutions on IHL) in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 focused on assessing and strengthening Member States capacities towards effective implementation of the ECOWAS IHL Plan of Action, adapted into National Action Plans. This was implemented in collaboration with the ICRC.
The ECOWAS Commission led the development of technical guidance towards enhanced protection of vulnerable migrants through the development of Standard Operating Procedures on Protection of Vulnerable Mixed –Migrants for front-line stakeholders, validated by Member States Experts in 2023, providing critical standards for strengthening the protection regime including national referral mechanisms.
Towards the Development of a Policy on Missing West African Migrants, the ECOWAS Commission held technical sessions on the Situation of Missing, Detained, and Deceased Migrants with the International Organization for Migration and the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2023 and, in collaboration with the partners, developed a zero draft Strategy.
The Regional Network of Partners against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Children (VAC) was constituted in 2020 and held several engagements over the period covered by the ECOWAS Pledge to strengthen the coordination of activities between the ECOWAS Commission and the Regional Partners on the combat of Gender Based Violence and Violence against Children in the region.
The ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System (ECRIMS) was adopted and initial operationalization of the System, operating as a child rights observatory was achieved. The ECRIMS will serve as an Information Management capacity and approach to evidence-based advocacy, peer review, and collective accountability for child rights in the Region. The work of the ECOWAS Commission on Child Rights, in the period also includes conducting a study on children in emergencies, including children affected by armed conflicts, and continuing work on the protection of children on the move in collaboration with the Regional Working Group on Child Protection (GRPE) and the International Social Services West Africa and the West African Network for Child Protection (ISS/WAN).
An Integrated Technical Assessment/Validation Mission for Urgent Humanitarian Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons was conducted in Burkina Faso, including a Rapid Field Assessment conducted with the Government of Burkina Faso (CONASUR) in 2023 to enhance the provision of urgent Humanitarian Assistance to most vulnerable groups including Host Communities.
The ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Mechanism (ECOPHISM) was launched in 2021 and initial measures were implemented in 9 Member States of ECOWAS. The Mechanism is focused on strengthening coordination and capacity building for key protection and human security stakeholders towards preventing and responding to victimization and lessening vulnerabilities of persons who might be especially vulnerable to protection risks, including within the context of IHL and related contexts.
The ECOWAS Commission also developed a draft ECOWAS Humanitarian Handbook to serve as a basic guide to humanitarian action with a focus on regional and member states responsibilities.
