Events
Security Workshops in Kosovo
By Angela Griep
In
October 2002 UNV Kosovo organized a series of Security enhancement Workshops
in all regions of Kosovo together with the Regional Security Supervisors
and UNMIK Security Pristina. UNMIK staff members were encouraged to
attend the training, for UNVs it was mandatory. The seminars were funded
by the Japanese Government.
Security became more and more important within the
UN system during the last years. Diana Russler, Deputy United Nationas
Security Coordinator names two reasons for the need of more security
measures. One is that the UN today sends its staff into areas of greater
security risks then even a few years ago. Another reasons seems to be
the changing view people have of the United Nations. Especially in peace
keeping missions one or the other conflict party might have the impression
that the UN takes sides.
Due
to their sometimes very special skills, UNVs often find themselves in
isolated areas where they face a greater security risk then elsewhere.
Therefore United Nations Volunteers puts a great emphasis on security
related trainings.
In September 2002 UNV in conjunction with UNMIK security
organized a 2 days training workshop build on security awareness in
Kosovo. The workshop took place in Grand Hotel Pristina. 10 UNVs from
UNMIK and UNDP attended the workshop to later assist the regional security
supervisors with the Security Enhancement Trainings held in October.
The
training itself informed about the UN security system in general and
about how to use it to improve personal security. Topics in particular
were the security plan in the mission, office security, travel and vehicle
security, personal security, hostage-survival. Crowd-control and communications.
“this was really interesting”, says UNV Margaret Chishimba
after attending the security workshop in Pristina. “I learned
a lot about how to improve my personal security, to be aware of possible
dangerous situations and last but not least I know now why I should
use my radio and how to use it.”
