Distinguished Members of the International Association of Peacekeeping Operations Training Centers (IAPTC), partners and friends, with our greatest consideration and appreciation, we greet you on this special occasion.
The undersigned holds the position of Vice Minister of Defense Policies, function that concomitantly implies assuming the responsibilities of exercising the Presidency of the IAPTC, whose cycle began in October 2019.
Peru had the honor of being the host country in the celebration of the first quarter of a century in the life of the IAPTC, for which we dedicated our affection, efforts, and resources, to develop a unique event that took place from the 7th to 10th of October 2019.
We managed to bring together more than 280 attendees, including military, police, and civilian professionals, from more than 50 countries and 100 organizations on 5 continents, all of them with experience in education for peacekeeping operations deployed nowadays in different sites of the world.
The theme of the IAPTC 25th Annual Conference was "Training for Effective Peace Operations: Renewing and Advancing Partnerships."
The main objective was to promote the concept and ideas about peacekeeping and its goals, considering the contents and the methodology applied in the training and education of the personnel that later deploys in these missions, where they will perform the learnings and skills acquired, including security in high-risk environments.
The IAPTC Annual Conference in 2019, provided participants with a forum to discuss and exchange different points of view related to the training, preparation, and particular regulations of contemporary peacekeeping operations, in order to increase the knowledge of each participant, as well as exploring the paths to follow.
The forums and debates were led by experienced speakers, instructors, and moderators, who shared their ideas with specialized working groups, where the latest innovations in training and coaching were presented and proposed.
This international event was an excellent opportunity for Peru to continue promoting its image, as a country that contributes to the efforts of the international community to respond to any type of challenge that the world faces in the field of Peace and Security. In addition, this event allowed Peru to strengthen its cooperation and integration alliances in peacekeeping operations.
All the academic and cultural activities were enriching and concluded successfully, leaving us with the satisfaction of the accomplished mission, and the wealth of new bonds created between the participants.
Unfortunately, the circumstances imposed by the universal health crisis that affected us all to some extent, our usual communication and personal interaction that occurs in the annual conferences was suspended in the year 2020. But the prevailing limitations and restrictions were in turn an incentive for our inventiveness and desire to excel. Taking new technological tools in that year and in 2021, we held our conferences virtually, with the support of ALCOPAZ and the CCCPA Cairo in exercise of the IAPTC Secretariat.
Today we feel very proud with the results achieved during the exercise of the IAPTC Presidency from Peru. During these three years, we have shown leadership, strength, and legitimacy of our capabilities, and also a great spirit of integration for the benefit of our Association, which is identified by its interest of excellence, in support of education and training for peace missions.
For this period 2022, we commit to actively accompany the entire process, participating in person, in the 26th. Annual Conference and General Assembly scheduled in Dhaka - Bangladesh. On this occasion and through interpersonal dialogue, which is the preeminent characteristic of this organization, we will be able to resume the important and nourishing institutional and personal contacts, which imply renovation and integration of wills.
Together we will enjoy the hospitality and capacities of BIPSOT as host, whose members will also help the International Peace Support Training Center (IPSTC) of Kenya in the preparation phase prior to receiving us during the 2023 cycle.
As well, from this Presidency we will continue to strive, to identify and attract the interest of potential hosts for subsequent cycles.
Confident that you will join us in this new challenge, we will gladly greet you in person, there at BIPSOT.
Cordially.
Benigno Leonel Cabrera Pino
Vice Minister of Defense Policies of Peru
President of IAPTC Peru 2022
Esteemed Members of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers (IAPTC), Colleagues and Partners - Warm Greetings.
On behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Army, let me have the honor and privilege to welcome you all to attend the 26th Annual Conference of the IAPTC. The event will be held at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), Dhaka, Bangladesh from 31 October to 04 November 2022. I express my sincere gratitude to the Executive Committee of the IAPTC for having the trust and confidence on BIPSOT to host this mega event for the 3rd time. With the motto ‘Promoters of Peace,’ this premier institution has already established its footprint as a global ‘Center of Excellence’ for peace operations training and capacity building. We, in collaboration with the IAPTC Executive Committee and the Secretariat; concerned agencies of the Government of Bangladesh; Bangladesh Army and other associated partners, vow to make this event a great success.
Since inception in 1995, the IAPTC has been providing a global platform for international organizations, training institutions, centers, Government and Non-Government Organizations associated with peacekeeping and peacebuilding. I strongly believe that the 26th Annual Conference will provide a unique opportunity for in-person interaction, exchange of views and best practices, and reinvigorating our connections that was hindered due to the devastation of COVID 19 Pandemic. I gratefully thank the IAPTC Executive Committee for selecting a time-worthy theme for the 26th Annual Conference, which is ‘Peace Operations in the Digital Era – Opportunities and Challenges for the Global Training Community’. I am equally indebted to all those Guest Speakers, who volunteered to share their wisdom and insight with the participants on few of the most contemporary and critical issues related to today’s peacekeeping initiatives.
I would humbly request all concerned to go through the detailed information and guidelines mentioned in the Administrative Note, and complete the Registration Process by accessing the Conference Website at www.26iaptc.bipsot.net . Please feel free to contact us at 26iaptc.enquery@bipsot.net for any queries.
BIPSOT and all members of the IAPTC Executive Committee are eagerly waiting to welcome you all for an in-person reunion at BIPSOT, Bangladesh. I would earnestly request all concerned to come to Bangladesh, relish the traditional hospitality, and also actively contribute in the 26th IAPTC Annual Conference.
Cordially,
A S M RIDWANUR RAHMAN
Major General
Commandant BIPSOT and IAPTC President Designate
Esteemed Members of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers (IAPTC), Colleagues, Partners and Friends,
Warm Greetings from the IAPTC Secretariat, the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding.
CCCPA is honored and proud to serve as the Secretariat of the IAPTC since 2017. In this capacity, CCCPA has been providing continuous advice and support to the IAPTC Presidency and Host, supporting the organization of Annual Conferences, working closely with the Executive Committee including the Consolidation and Development Committee and maintaining the Association online presence. The role of CCCPA has not only been limited to the conventional understanding of the Secretariat’s functions, as the center has also been playing a leading role in the management of the Association while maintaining the IAPTC Articles of the Association.
While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from holding an in-person annual conference for two consecutive years, the IAPTC Secretariat and Presidency, in cooperation with the Executive Committee, managed to maintain the Association’s viability and continuity in the face of the pandemic.
To that end, the IAPTC Secretariat, in cooperation with the Executive Committee, hosted the Virtual Seminar “Overcoming Training Challenges in The COVID Era – Critical Gaps, Best Practices, Hybrid Approaches” in November 2021 to gather the IAPTC community during the pandemic, which witnessed the participation of more than 400 participants from 40 different countries and 6 continents. Shifting to the virtual format, for the first time, provides strong evidence of the resilience of our association in times of uncertainty as well as our eagerness to sustain our level of engagement and to stay abreast of major developments in Peacekeeping training.
As you all know, CCCPA had the privilege to host the 23rd Annual Conference of the IAPTC which was held under the theme “Integrated Peacekeeping Training for Complex Environments’’ in 2017. In this context and in accordance with our roles and responsibilities as the Secretariat of the Association, we remain committed to supporting this year’s host, the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), to ensure a successful 26th annual conference, in Bangladesh from 31st October to 4th November 2022.
We look forward to contributing to this year’s annual conference whereby relevant stakeholders involved in peacekeeping are able once again to share good practices and lessons learned pertaining to this year’s theme and in alignment with emerging challenges and opportunities in the field.
In light of CCCPA’s leading role in managing the Association and sustaining its institutional memory, particularly in the COVID-19 era, and in line with past practice, we would like to express our willingness to renew our Secretariat role for a second term; a proposal that has been unanimously approved by the ExCom and will be presented to the upcoming Annual General Meeting. We look forward to continuing to serve the IAPTC community.
Finally, I would like to reiterate that the Secretariat continues to support and cooperate with this year’s host, and the Executive Committee, in order to ensure a safe and successful return to in-person conferences.
This year’s annual conference will be a viable opportunity to resume with a more revitalized spirit towards grasping the contemporary challenges and developments that continue to shape the peacekeeping community, after suspending the annual conference for nearly three years due the COVID-19 Pandemic.
I look forward to this opportunity to meet and engage with the IAPTC community in-person.
Thank you very much from the IAPTC Secretariat, the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding.