Ireland
Practice Relating to Rule 142. Instruction in International Humanitarian Law within Armed Forces
In 2008, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a written response to a question on the existence of a positive human rights obligation for peacekeeping forces to protect civilian populations, stated: “I am advised by my colleague the Minister for Defence … that all members of the Defence Forces assigned to peacekeeping duties overseas are briefed on relevant international human rights law and the Law of Armed Conflict.”
In 2009, in its initial report to the Committee against Torture, Ireland stated:
Generic Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) training is an integral part of all Defence Forces career courses and overseas training at both the individual and collective levels, with the necessary and appropriate allocations of personnel and time. LOAC training includes instruction on the Convention [against Torture].