Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide, Second Edition Second Edition | Page 29

Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
d. Local norms regarding governance, justice, and rule of law can contribute both to problems
and solutions. For example, councils of elders may be used to resolve disputes effectively, while
in some cases punishments may be extreme by international standards. Military forces and other
international actors may be unaccustomed to such practices, but will need to gain an understanding
of local perspectives regarding justice and dispute resolution to foster an appropriate rule of law.
e. Military forces should be aware of the relevant political issues at each level that affect PoC
within their areas. They must also be cognizant of the formal and informal authorities and structural
processes that impact the operational environment and their own actions. Again, these matters may
reside at different political levels; for example, if the military force has a multinational
configuration, some of the units may have “caveats” that constrain their employment. Military
forces must also understand that their operations ultimately serve a political purpose and that their
successes and failures will have political consequences. Additionally, it is likely that their military
activities will be integrated within a political process, such as the improvemen t of governance,
which will determine the mission’s effectiveness. Military forces provide the security to enable
these processes and otherwise support them when it is appropriate to do so.
M ILITARY /S ECURITY F ACTORS
a. This category accounts for the size, organization, locations, activities, capabilities,
vulnerabilities, objectives, and intentions of armed groups including military, paramilitary, police,
intelligence services, and criminal groups. Military forces need an understanding of these factors
as they apply to themselves, other friendly forces, adversaries, and any
neutral armed parties that could prove relevant to the operational
environment. In particular, they must have adequate self-awareness
which generally entails situational understanding two levels above and
below a particular echelon (for example, a company commander should
understand all perspectives from squad through brigade).
b. Armed groups can threaten civilians, enhance PoC, or do both.
Vulnerable groups may attempt to defend themselves, and the creation
of such militias in some situations could constitute a new threat to civilians. While they could be
attacked simply because they are members of an ethnic or other group, in some cases civilians may
not be at great risk from such deliberate targeting. Rather, in a lawless environment, the population
in its daily activities could be vulnerable to widespread individual acts of violence such as murder,
rape, robbery, and kidnapping. Other civilians, such as aid workers, can also be at risk. It will be
important for the military to understand civilian attitudes towards and perceptions of different
armed actors, including military and security forces.
c. With a comprehensive appreciation of military/security factors in their operational
environment, military forces can conduct operations appropriate to the particular circumstances.
Forces may maneuver to defend local populations or neutralize specific threats. They may also
secure a large area to establish an environment in which nonmilitary efforts such as governance,
economic development, and the provision of essential services can progress effectively. Military
forces may be required to conduct familiar operations such as patrolling and checkpoints, but they
may also be involved in security sector reform (SSR) activities such as advising host-state security
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