The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to host the 18th Senior Workshop on International Rules governing Military Operations (SWIRMO) in Riyadh from November 1 to 6, organised by the Ministry of Defence's National Defence University, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The workshop, which will be inaugurated by Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, will see the participation of 125 senior military officers from 90 countries worldwide, marking the first time the workshop has been held in the Kingdom.
SWIRMO serves as a crucial global platform that brings together leaders and officers from various armies to discuss the application of international humanitarian law (IHL) in modern military operations and to exchange best practices and experiences in the field.
Its key objectives include enhancing leaders' understanding of international standards for military operations, analysing practical challenges in implementing IHL, and proposing actionable solutions.
Furthermore, it aims to align legal and ethical considerations with military planning and operations, and to strengthen channels of understanding and sustainable coordination between armed forces globally and humanitarian organisations with shared interests.