The ICRC's New Delhi delegation held a series of five one-day workshops for senior officers of the border security force and the central reserve police force in the state of Jammu and Kashmir between 17 and 24 July.

The workshops, which were conducted by an ICRC delegate to the armed forces and the coordinator of ICRC activities in Jammu and Kashmir, were attended by around 100 officers up to the rank of brigadier.

The focus was on the importance of humane behaviour in containing armed violence, the proportionate use of force and the conscious choice of military targets. The universal obligation of all armed forces to abide by the principles of international humanitarian law was also stressed. The nature of the ICRC's role, with particular reference to its work in Jammu and Kashmir, was explained to the participants, who represented one of the world's largest paramilitary forces.

The ICRC began its constructive dialogue with the Indian paramilitary forces in academies and other training centres three years ago. The recent courses in Jammu and Kashmir brought this dialogue into an operational environment for the first time.