Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training is provided to personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force on the provisions of (i) the Geneva Conventions and (ii) UN Security Resolution 1325.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) worked closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in the production of the UK National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security. This Plan, released in June 2014 articulates how UNSCR 1325 fits into operational planning and training, and offers a coherent and resource effective plan of action.

The themes of UNSCR 1325 are covered by various aspects of mandatory military training and policy, including the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This training is vital to assisting our troops' ability to engage with and work alongside local communities in which they are deployed. It is MOD policy that specific issues relating to Prevention of Sexual Violence, in a given theatre of operations, are covered in mission-specific operational law training, prior to deployment.

The UK is required under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention (1977) to ensure that the LOAC, which includes the Geneva Conventions, is disseminated widely and included in training programmes for the armed forces. All personnel deploying on operations receive individual or collective pre-deployment training, which includes cultural orientation and refresher training on the LOAC, including the Geneva Conventions. Service-specific training includes:

Royal Navy

All Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM) are expected to comply with the UK Manual on the LOAC which contains reference to sexual mistreatment. In addition, Phase 1 RN Ratings are given a LOAC　training package and the RN Military Training Unit at HMS RALEIGH delivers a Rule of Engagement module which is associated with the Geneva Convention and Internal Humanitarian Law (IHL).　Pre-Deployment training for RN/RM personnel includes briefings on how individuals are expected to conduct themselves in a captive environment as well as Human Rights and the LOAC refresher training.

The Command Team of all units conducting Operational Sea training/Directed Continuation Training receive training from RN Legal Advisors which covers the Geneva Conventions and IHL.　During this training it is made clear to the Command Team it is their responsibility to disseminate this information to the Ship’s Company, and this is delivered team wide via CMS7 (an annual mandatory individual training requirement).

Army

Training on LOAC is delivered to all ranks during soldier and officer initial training and is reinforced annually through the delivery of the Military Annual Training Test on Operational Law (MATT 7) along with progressive training incorporated in command and leadership courses thereafter. In addition, theatre-specific training on LOAC and IHL is provided to all soldiers (and officers) before they deploy on an operation.

Other Ranks receive a basic level of instruction during their initial training in order to provide a fundamental understanding of the legal requirements on operations.　 This is refreshed by the annual training provided by MATT 7 and developed in through-career continuation training as part of the Soldier Command, Leadership and Management (CLM) programme. Through-career training is delivered at a level and frequency appropriate to rank, responsibility and force readiness status.

Royal Air Force

All RAF personnel are taught LOAC, which includes the Geneva Conventions and the provisions of UN Security Resolution 1325, during Phase 1 Training. This is reinforced annually as part of RAF Common Core Skills Training and emphasised as a core part of any Pre-Deployment Training.