Human rights principles in security training
Initiative description: Providing relevant FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ security personnel with specific human rights training with a focus on areas including non-discrimination, the rights of media representatives and human rights advocates, and the use of force. This will include training for security personnel to act in accordance with the following international standards: the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (BPUFF) and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (CCLEO). For private security providers, standards will also include the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. In addition, the initiative will also include the distribution of written guidance on how to respond to various scenarios that security personnel might encounter during the tournament, and testing of training and guidance through other events held prior to the tournament.
The training programme
A sound understanding of human rights standards among security staff was essential to ensure that the rights of tournament attendees and staff were safeguarded, in addition to ensuring their safety and security. Hence, human rights and what that meant in terms of policing and stewarding were included in all security training materials, including all practical session briefing notes and course handouts. Security force trainees were challenged to consider whether their actions complied with international human rights principles and were trained on how to integrate human rights considerations in their decisions.
Training for the police force on these issues was overseen by the Training and Development Unit of the Security and Safety Operations Committee (SSOC), made up of national and international experts with experience in applying human rights in operational deployment. With the support from FIFA and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22) human rights experts, the unit produced a handbook entitled “Human Rights Policy Guidance”, which helped to ensure that human rights standards were embedded in all training delivered as part of FIFA World Cup 2022™ preparations.
The security training programme for Qatari police commanders and police officers responsible for securing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ sites started in 2017. It was drawn up in line with the internationally recognised Gold, Silver, Bronze (GSB) command model and reviewed by international human rights specialists. In addition, it was heavily based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and integrated decisions that focus on nine of the 30 articles of the (UDHR), forming the foundation of the training, specifically in terms of non-discrimination, fair treatment for all and freedom of expression. It applied the human rights PLAN model, which uses the principles of proportionality, legality, accountability and necessity and is a long-established and proven system that focuses on application in the field, as well as being complemented by practical on-the-job training, including exposure to FIFA football tournaments globally. Lastly, the training for commanders was also complemented by designated coaching and mentoring to help them apply the training to real life operations.
Training outputs
A total of 426 Bronze commanders, of which 28 were female, and 37 Silver commanders were trained in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
In addition, approximately 21,000 SSOC personnel (staff and police) received training through a series of train-the-trainer courses. The programme provided lessons on how to operate responsibly with respect for human rights and encouraged security forces to be mindful and respectful in their response to various scenarios that they might encounter during the tournament.
With regard to private security personnel, over 17,000 private security personnel, including about 1,500 volunteers from the Qatar Red Crescent, received anti‑discrimination and human rights training in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Legacy plans
Major sporting events held in Qatar, such as the World Athletics Championships 2019, the Arabian Gulf Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019™, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ and the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ were used as opportunities for commanders and police officers to gain experience in the field. This gave the SSOC’s training team the chance to continually review the training and guidelines to identify areas for improvement.
Both the GSB command process and the human rights PLAN model will be maintained as part of domestic policing beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ as part of the legacy of the final tournament.