The overall theme for this years IAPTC conference is “Effective Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding: Challenges for the Training Community”. The theme is chosen in order to meet the longstanding trend in peacekeeping that peacekeepers are increasingly called upon to act as early peacebuilders. It is a common knowledge that peacekkeping and peacebuilding is not separated in time, mere overlapping each other. The traditional peacekeeping soldier toolbox must be broadened in order to be able to meet the new demands. This also means that there is an even increased need for cooperation between civilian, military and police personnel. Understanding for each other’s capabilities, culture and tasks must be a part of training prior to a mission and during induction training in the mission area.
Since part of the objective with the IAPTC is to enhance interaction between various types of training centres, interest organisations and universities an “Ideas Bazaar” was conducted during part of the first day of the conference. SWEDINT was this year, besides focusing on promoting its own courses, especially promoting the Nordic cooperation within the framework of NORDEFCO in close cooperation with the other Nordic countries. SWEDINT is also using the annual conferences to deepen already ongoing cooperation with other training centres. As an example of centre that SWEDINT cooperate with the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India (CUNPK) can be mentioned. The annual IAPTC conference for 2013 will be conducted in Egypt.
LtCol Jerker Sundström
OC Academics, SWEDINT