The Syrian National Coalition, in coordination with Geneva Call, has released a series of Internet and television advertisements aiming to educate Syrians about the rules of warfare and human rights.
The six videos, titled "Fighter, not Killer" have been used to train military and legal cadres of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Geneva Call is an NGO focused on engaging with armed non-State actors with a view towards increasing awareness and compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law standards.
"In light of the recent events that have occurred within the FSA, we felt that it was imperative that the Coalition outline and educate what is acceptable and what is not. We are working within the ranks of the FSA to ensure this information reaches all levels of the army,” said KhaledSaleh, director of the coalition media office.
The initiative is in response to a series of YouTube clips, purportedly showing members of the FSA and other armed militia groups committing human rights abuses circulated on the Internet recently that has raised alarm amongst western and Arab opposition backers who are considering arming the groups.
The Coalition is currently coordinating with various media organizations to disseminate thevideos to citizens and fighters on the ground in Syria. Print versions of the contents of the videos have also been distributed to all brigades of the FSA.
The videos were used as educational tools and a starting point for discussionon the rules and conventions of war.at a series of workshops held for FSA leaders on the Turkish-Syrian border, run by Geneva Call with support from the Coalition.
The Syrian Coalition strives to promote human rights for all citizens, despite Syrian President Bashar Assad’s widespread rights violations.
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