Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide, Second Edition Second Edition | Page 51

Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
particularly when undisciplined militaries, police forces, or other armed groups believe they can
act with impunity. In addition to occurring as non-systematic acts of violence, CRSV can be
centrally orchestrated as part of a deliberate campaign of terror against a population group, and as
such can be part of a genocidal effort. CRSV is addressed in more detail in Task 25—Support the
Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.
b. Impeded Access to Humanitarian Assistance and Essential Services. Even when they
are not displaced from their homes and communities, civilians can lack essentials such as food,
water, medical care, and fuel. This can occur because the necessities are not available or because
it is too risky for civilians to travel even short distances to obtain them. The problem is
compounded during armed conflict. Critical infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods may be
destroyed, crops might be burned, and some combatant groups may pillage food and other
essentials from civilians in an attempt to “live off the land.”
Additionally, although LOAC/IHL obligates parties to facilitate humanitarian aid,
humanitarian workers may be unable to deliver assistance because they are being prevented, they
are targeted, or the risk in a conflict situation is too high. In many cases, the civilians’ supplies and
humanitarian relief items could be wrongfully appropriated by armed actors. When deprived of
humanitarian assistance or essential services, civilians can become victims of malnutrition,
dehydration, illness, exposure, and lack of medical care. In some cases civilian deaths from these
conditions can exceed those from violence. This topic is discussed in greater detail in Task 28—
Support Humanitarian Assistance.
c. Risks to Children. Children are dependent upon others to take care of them and are
vulnerable to numerous threats and forms of exploitation. 31 Orphans are especially at risk, and any
support programs will require both adequate resources as well as close monitoring. Some
governmental and nongovernmental armed groups, such as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA),
conscript and indoctrinate children as soldiers, which is considered a war crime under the Rome
Statute. Planning for military operations may have to account for the likelihood of vulnerable
children and child soldiers. When detained or captured, child soldiers will require special handling,
treatment, and reintegration. The protection of children is discussed in further detail in Task 24—
Support the Protection of Children.
d. Human Trafficking. Human trafficking such as slavery, prostitution, and theft of body
organs frequently occurs in fragile states and post-conflict situations, particularly when there is
widespread poverty and limited rule of law. It results in conditions tantamount to slavery and
fosters other crimes such as kidnapping. These activities can be decentralized, but are often
controlled by organized criminal groups that may have transnational ties and linkages to those in
official, legitimate, and respectable positions. The mandates for peace operations and other
military missions may not specifically address the responsibility to prevent human trafficking, but
commanders and leaders should ensure that their soldiers 32 and police do not support it.
authority, such as government officials or members of a security force. Because a military force may have limited
involvement regarding many forms of SGBV (such as domestic spouse abuse), the PoC Military Reference Guide
addresses CRSV. However, much of its discussion also applies to SGBV and SEA.
31
The age that defines a child varies among countries. The UN definition of a child is a person under 18 years old.
32
In this reference guide, “soldiers” refer to any military personnel, regardless of service.
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