Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide, Second Edition Second Edition | Page 54

Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
• Severity—the level of violence against civilians and civilian depredations.
• Duration and frequency—length of time and rate of occurrence.
• Location—where violence is committed against civilians.
Task Challenges
This task presupposes an effective and continuous understanding of the other situational
variables including the operational environment, the actors, and the dynamics. Perpetrators will
likely attempt to conceal their efforts to target civilians, and it may be difficult to obtain accurate
information, particularly in remote areas. Vulnerabilities and threats can change rapidly due to
triggering events such as national disasters, coups, or political assassinations. Unforeseen
vulnerabilities and threats could also emerge as second-order effects of previous events and
operations.
Task 5: Understand the PoC Strategy
Task Description
Commanders and staffs must comprehend the PoC strategy developed by higher echelons,
including the political leadership. They must also develop their own approach for civilian
protection and ensure this is understood throughout the command.
Task Relevance to PoC
An effective PoC strategy shapes the role and activities of the military force. Understanding
the strategy helps military commanders to ensure their units support PoC objectives and
supplement the efforts of other protection actors. Units that operate in the absence of a strategy, or
act in contravention of the strategy, may undermine effective civilian protection.
How the Task is Accomplished
a. Strategy entails continuous choices among ends, ways, and means. While “strategic” usually
connotes high-level and long-term endeavors, to some extent strategizing can occur at any level.
It is important to develop a strategy as soon as possible, but it may be advisable to change a strategy
based on new risks and opportunities.
b. It may be appropriate to create a separate and formal PoC strategy, although in some cases
PoC considerations are integrated in a single overarching strategy that addresses broader mission
objectives. If a formal PoC strategy is to be developed, the UN framework provides a useful
format. 34 If a PoC strategy document does not exist, commanders and staffs should nevertheless
be able to articulate the following components from the framework:
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See Appendix 11 to Annex G. For more information, see Annex A (Framework for the Drafting of Comprehensive
PoC Strategies) in United Nations, DPKO/DFS Policy on the Protection of Civilians in United Nations Peacekeeping
(New York: UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Department of Field Support, 1 April 2015). Also see
United Nations, Protection of Civilians, Implementing Guidelines for Military Components of United Nations
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