12/ POLICING ASSEMBLIES IN AFRICA: Guidelines for the Policing of Assemblies by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa 7.2. All law enforcement officials, regardless of unit, must receive ongoing and continuous training on policing assemblies, with advanced training being made available to any unit established for the specific purpose of policing assemblies. Training for all law enforcement officials should include, at a minimum, the following: 7.2.1. The normative framework for the right to assemble freely with others, as well as a clear explanation of the relationship between the right to assembly and other regional and international human rights standards as set out in 1.2.1; 7.2.2. Communication skills training to ensure the effective facilitation of assemblies, including the possible ways non-verbal or other forms of indirect communication can be perceived by assembly organisers and participants as intimidating (for example, the presence or use of certain equipment and the body language of officials); 7.2.3. Understanding participant behaviour, including the different types of group behaviour, and techniques for differentiating between various groups and people and their individual behaviours, rather than dealing with assembly participants as a single, homogenous group: 7.2.4. Techniques in minimising conflict, including the development of negotiation and mediation skills; 7.2.5. Tactics to promote the de-escalation of tension and violence, and methods for minimising the risk of harm to assembly participants, observers and bystanders; 7.2.6. The lawful use of force and firearms in accordance with Guideline 21 of these Guidelines and other regional and international human rights standards; 7.2.7. The proper use of less lethal weapons to minimise the risk of abuse by law enforcement officials. Specific training regimes should be devised for each weapon and should include both theoretical and scenario-based training, as well as shooting at static or interactive targets; 7.2.8. The safety and protection of persons and groups who are particularly vulnerable to limitations on their right to assemble freely with others and/or other human rights violations in the context of assemblies, due to their status or an intersection of one or more statuses. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, economic status, fortune, birth, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, or being journalists or human rights defenders; 7.2.9. The roles and mandates of internal and external accountability mechanisms, and the obligation of law enforcement officials to cooperate with oversight and accountability structures; 7.2.10. Principles of accountability, including the internal and external mechanisms to which officials are answerable, and the obligations of a law enforcement official to report conduct by colleagues that is excessive, arbitrary or otherwise in violation of law. 8. Oversight, accountability and monitoring 8.1. The responsibility of State Parties and law enforcement agencies to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the right to assemble freely with others extends to establishing effective APCOF Guidelines on policing assemblies TEXT.indd 12 12/04/2017 17:07:43