Tiina Vahtras, who has worked over six years within the EU crisis management context, including as Human Rights and Gender Adviser in EUCAP Sahel Mali mission, talked about her personal experience on reducing human rights risks in security sector assistance. She emphasised the importance of the recently adopted EU Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (EU HRDDP), which helps to ensure that EU’s security assistance would comply with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Students gained a structured understanding of the risk management in security sector support from the training. Vahtras underlined the key principles of human rights due diligence, stressing also the importance of considering age and gender specific risks, legislation and accountability systems. She explained the full cycle of human rights due diligence process, which starts with the risk identification, assessment and mitigation, and requires constant monitoring and reporting throughout the provision of support in order to identify possible human rights violations and ensure an adequate response from relevant authorities.
EMAlumna Tiina Vahtras (EMA 2008 cohort) at the GC Europe / EMA Skill Building Workshop, February 2025, Venice
Students participated in hands-on activities that replicated real-life scenarios through interactive case studies. Divided into smaller groups, they examined certain situations, identified and assessed possible risks to human rights, and suggested customised mitigation measures. Students also discussed how to choose between three risk levels—low, medium, and high—and how to proceed in each case. The importance of risk management in order to minimise potential harm to human rights while providing efficient security support became clearer to the participants.
The difference between the EU and UN approaches to human rights due diligence was also discussed throughout the workshop. Vahtras pointed out that whereas both the EU and the UN prioritise human rights protection in the context of their security sector related activities and support, there are some differences in how each organisation manages human rights related risks. This depends also on the nature of support and the availability of human rights related expertise and resources.
Students had the chance to ask Vahtras about her experiences in the field, the difficulties of enforcing human rights laws in conflict areas, and the future of EU security engagements during a lively Q&A session that concluded the programme. Her observations offered a practical viewpoint on the difficulties of striking a balance between human rights protection and security related engagements.
The workshop provided a valuable learning opportunity for EMA students hoping to pursue careers in international security, peacebuilding, or human rights. Vahtras’ knowledge and pragmatic approach increased their knowledge on the complexity of human rights protection in conflict settings. Workshops like these are essential in equipping the future generation of human rights professionals with practical knowledge and skills on enhancing human rights compliance and protection in the field. The occasion served as a reminder of how crucial it is to incorporate human rights norms throughout all phases of security sector support in order to make sure that foreign assistance promotes stability and protection rather than causes harm.
Tiina Vahtras (EMA 2008 cohort)