24-26 May 2011, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. UNITAR and the Asia-Pacific Civil Military Centre of Excellence (APCMCOE) have identified the Protection of Civilians as an area of common interest on which they could jointly launch a sustainable cooperation.

By jointly developing their experience and expertise and building synergies between the two institutions, they will be able to bring a considerable contribution to advance the agenda for training and enhance the capacity for military, police and civilian personnel serving or eager to serve in peace operations. Furthermore, they will jointly conduct research and organise high-level events through which training needs and new areas of research will be identified that could complement the existing curricula, both of the two institutions and of partner training institutions.

Within the context of the cooperation, UNITAR participated in the Civil Military Affairs Conference on the theme of “Enhancing the Protection of Civilians in Peace Operations” organized by the Government of Australia and APCMCOE from 24 – 26 May 2011. The conference was well-attended by Australian institutions, international organizations, academia and practitioners particularly experienced in the area of Protection of Civilians. This Conference, together with an extract of the film documentary on the Protection of Civilians that is currently being finalised jointly by the two institutions, mark the initial activities being carried out by the two institutions.

Larger windows of opportunity are currently being explored to further materialise the commitment of both institutions and to further strengthen their cooperation.

This partnership comes at an opportune moment when the Independent Senior Advisory Group’s Report: Civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict is appealing for the development of strategic partnerships to meet the challenge of empowering civilians working in Peace Operations.