At the kind invitation of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Abdel Fattah Abnaouf, Director of the Department of Planning, International Cooperation and External Relations, participated as a representative of the Academy in the training course organized by the Standing Committee on International Humanitarian Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entitled: Preventive measures to protect humanitarian aid and health services during armed conflicts, with the participation of various military and civilian sectors and representatives of the OIC Member States during the period between 5-8 Muharram 1445 AH, corresponding to 23-26 July 2023 in Jeddah.

The course included a set of valuable specialized scientific lectures from specialists and experts in the field of international humanitarian law, which are specific to the concept of international humanitarian law, its sources, principles, scope of application and implementation mechanisms, with reference to its most important terms, as well as rights and duties of health care workers and journalists during armed conflict, preventive measures to protect humanitarian action in areas of military operations, protection of emblems of humanitarian organizations in armed conflict, and the role of national strategic leaders in promoting international law.

The course also dealt with the statement of criminal responsibility and the accountability mechanism for violations against health, media and humanitarian personnel during armed conflicts, and the supervisory role of humanitarian organizations in protecting violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts. The course concluded with sessions that included a presentation of the most important contemporary models of applications of international humanitarian law in the Arab Republic of Egypt and in the Kingdom of Morocco with scientific and practical discussions from military leaders, civilians, volunteers, judges and experts practicing humanitarian work in areas of armed conflict.

It is noteworthy that the approval of the establishment of the Permanent Committee for International Humanitarian Law was by Resolution of the Council of Ministers on 14/5/2007, and was formed under the chairmanship of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and the committee is concerned with international humanitarian law and its conventions, with recommendations on the conventions and creating awareness about it. It also aims to contribute to the development of international humanitarian law through national studies and research, and to strive for the Standing Committee to be the first national reference in consultations in the field of international humanitarian law.