Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
PHILOSOPHY
► Figure 1.3 : Military ‘ Doctrinal ’ Pyramid ◄
PoC is a moral , political , legal , and strategic priority for all military operations . Communities on the ground and around the world expect uniformed personnel to protect the population ; failure to do so jeopardizes the credibility and legitimacy of the operation and can undermine other objectives .
3 POC FUNDAMENTALS ( UNDERSTAND — PROTECT — SHAPE )
a . Three overarching fundamentals can assist military forces in the protection of civilians during their operations . Neglecting any of the principles increases the possibility that civilians will suffer unnecessary harm . These principles are not prioritized , but the sequence suggests that military forces should understand the circumstances in which they will operate , determine the goals that should be achieved , plan and conduct operations to achieve the goals , develop synergy with other actors , and shape the surrounding environment to enable success . Figure 1.4 depicts the framework used in the PoC Military Reference Guide , which includes three PoC fundamentals and 45 supporting tasks .
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