Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide, Second Edition Second Edition | Page 39

Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
and, ultimately, they must be capable of maintaining domestic security so that a normal society
can be established.
► Figure 2.3: Positive Actors ◄
b. Some positive actors, such as many NGOs, will strive to avoid being perceived as partners
of the military and should not be identified in such a manner. NGOs that maintain neutrality
perform an important role in protecting civilians, and military forces should not attempt to
compromise their neutrality.
c. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian A ffairs (OCHA)
coordinates activities between UN agencies, NGOs, and local actors. To facilitate this, eleven
global “clusters” have been created based upon sectors of expertise. Global clusters and lead
agencies are depicted in Figure 2.4, and depending upon the situation a similar structure may exist
at the country level.
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