Advancing Maritime Security: Rashtriya Raksha University and ICRC Join Forces
Newzdaddy Education Updates
Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and The International Committee of The Red Cross (ICRC) collaborated to host the “International Symposium on Maritime Operations and Humanitarian Considerations.” The event marked an extension of their impactful partnership, aiming to delve into pressing issues related to maritime operations, naval warfare, and international humanitarian law.
Key Symposium Highlights:
- Memorandum of Understanding Extension: The symposium witnessed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RRU and ICRC, reinforcing their commitment to addressing critical maritime challenges collaboratively.
- India’s Maritime Milestone: Prof. Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of RRU, declared 2023 as a pivotal year for India in the maritime domain. He emphasized India’s significant advancements in operational capabilities, humanitarian efforts, and adherence to international legal frameworks.
- Global Collaboration: Prof. Patel stressed India’s aspiration to become one of the top five ship-building nations globally, emphasizing the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ mantra. He highlighted efforts to unite shipbuilders worldwide through the development of maritime clusters.
- Focus on Humanitarian Law: Prof. Patel underscored the importance of implementing international humanitarian law in the evolving landscape of naval operations. He discussed the development of rules and regulations between nations to ensure the safety and security of civilians, especially considering technological advancements and climate change impacts.
- Successful Collaboration: Prof. Patel applauded the continuous efforts of the RRU-ICRC collaboration, citing over 800 participants trained from 20+ countries through various certificate courses, training programs, and workshops.
- Economic Significance: Mr. Kedir Awol Omar, Head of the Regional Delegation of ICRC, highlighted the economic importance of global shipping. He emphasized the potential of oceans for economic growth through offshore resources and addressed the challenges posed by rising competition for sea-based resources.
- Humanitarian Challenges: Mr. Omar discussed the humanitarian law enforcement difficulties related to potential maritime conflicts, especially considering climate change concerns and the vulnerability of migrants attempting dangerous maritime crossings.
- Justice’s Perspective: Hon’ble Justice S. Ravindra Bhat (Retd.) drew attention to maritime security issues, citing threats such as piracy, armed robbery, migration, and human trafficking. He explored the evolving role of naval forces in armed situations, emphasizing the need to address inadequacies in defending civilians in naval warfare.
- Call for Climate Security Recognition: Justice Bhat suggested recognizing climate security as an essential component of regional and national security policies, drawing attention to the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region.
- Expressed Gratitude: Mr. Sushil Goswami, Director of SICMSS and University Dean I/C expressed gratitude to key figures for their support, highlighting the impactful scholarship developed by RRU in international humanitarian law.
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