Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
PEACE OPERATIONS
Peace operations ( or peace support operations ) prevent or contain conflict , restore peace , or support reconciliation and rebuilding in a post-conflict setting . There are five types of peace operations :
a . Conflict Prevention . Military activities may build capacity , mitigate undesired conditions , or deter a threat .
b . Peace Building . Military actors conduct stability activities ( often referred to as “ stability operations ”), usually in conjunction with or in support of nonmilitary actors . These efforts often emphasize building or strengthening host-state institutions to prevent conflict .
c . Peacemaking . Military actors support diplomatic activities to establish a cease-fire or a rapid peaceful settlement of an existing or imminent conflict . Peacemaking measures include the provision of good offices , mediation , diplomatic pressure , isolation , or sanctions . Military support to peacemaking may include direct or indirect involvement of military assets ( e . g ., staff support , planning , providing security , or contributing military advice ).
d . Peacekeeping . Military operations designed to preserve peace where fighting has halted , often to support implementation of cease-fire agreement or truce , and to support diplomatic efforts to reach a long-term political settlement .
( 1 ) “ Traditional ” Peacekeeping — often mandated under Chapter VI of the UN Charter ( Pacific Settlement of Disputes ). Traditional peacekeeping occurs with the consent of all major parties to the conflict . While traditional peacekeepers may have a PoC mandate , the situation makes it unlikely that they will have to use force and their activities are normally limited to monitoring an agreement ’ s implementation .
( 2 ) “ Robust ” Peacekeeping — often mandated under Chapter VII of the UN Charter ( Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace , Breaches of the Peace , and Acts of Aggression ). Robust peacekeeping may be required when some actors do not provide “ tactical ” consent to the mission . Peacekeepers may be required to use force on selected occasions for self-defense or defense of the mandate , including support of PoC . Peacekeepers may be involved in other tasks that support nation building .
e . Peace Enforcement involves the use or threat of military force , normally pursuant to international authorization in support of a mandate but without the consent of all parties to the conflict , to compel compliance with resolutions or sanctions designed to maintain or restore peace and order .
ARMED CONFLICT
a . “ Armed conflict ” is an imprecise and frequently-debated term , but it may be viewed as a condition that exists when a high level of violence occurs between organized armed factions including military forces , paramilitary forces , militias , rebel groups , or other armed actors . Armed conflicts may be international or intra-national .
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