Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide, Second Edition Second Edition | Page 38

Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
c. Critical capabilities for vulnerable civilian groups may include maintaining the essential
means to survive; dissuading, resisting, or appeasing perpetrators; retaining human security and
cultural identity; obtaining support from third parties; gaining visibility via the media,
humanitarian organizations, or other actors; minimizing the effects of perpetrator actions; or
fleeing from the conflict area. Another critical capability could be fighting back against or taking
revenge on perpetrators.
d. For vulnerable populations, immediate minimal critical requirements likely will include
food, water, security, shelter, and medical care. Other critical requirements could include human
rights; livelihoods; gender-related concerns; children’s needs; cultural preservation; organization;
self-defense capability; sanctuaries; and, eventually, the benefits provided by a stabilized outcome
(safe and secure environment, good governance, rule of law, social well-being, and a sustainable
economy). In some cases, civilians will willingly put themselves at risk to secure the well-being
of their families, pursue political freedoms, preserve their culture and communities, or obtain other
critical requirements.
e. Critical vulnerabilities for potential victims may include weak protective capabilities; lack
of political power; weak organization; an inability to protect families from retribution;
collaborators that assist perpetrators; limited contact with the international community; and a lack
of essential means of survival. These vulnerabilities are likely to be exacerbated when civilians are
displaced.
O THER A CTORS
a. This category includes bystanders, negative actors, and positive actors.
(1) Bystanders include actors in the host state as well as the international community. They
avoid involvement for a variety of reasons, although eventually they could move to one of the
other categories.
(2) Negative actors include “third party enablers” and provide support to adversaries or
otherwise contribute to threats against civilians. Support may include military or financial
resources, political backing, information, geographical access, sanctuary, services, and other forms
of assistance. Negative actors may be motivated by ideological sympathy with the adversaries,
political objectives including opposition to the parties involved in PoC, or profit. Negative actors
may be persuaded or coerced into a different category and potentially can become positive actors
if they retain leverage over adversaries.
(3) Positive actors, such as those listed in Figure 2.3, include host-state and international
“partners” and others that perform a constructive role, but operate independently from the military.
Partners generally have common objectives with the military force and often coordinate their
efforts accordingly. They may or may not be responsive to a common higher authority with the
military force. Examples may include host-state governmental organizations (including security
forces), international organizations or multinational coalitions, developmental organizations from
other state governments, and other public and private civilian organizations. Police forces are
among the most important of partners; their very existence is intended primarily to protect civilians
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