Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide Second Edition
Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide
Protection of Civilians Military Reference Guide Second Edition
Executive Summary
Protection of Civilians ( PoC ) must be considered and integrated during all military operations , including peace operations and operations during armed conflicts . Civilians are protected persons under international law , and parties to a conflict have a legal obligation to protect civilians from the conflict ’ s effects . Additionally , PoC is a major objective of many military operations and is frequently included in mandates for peace operations .
There is often a lack of clarity and common understanding about PoC and how to achieve it . Many recent studies have noted that civilians are the people most at risk during armed conflict , and peacekeeping operations have faced significant challenges in protecting civilian populations effectively . These studies have identified numerous problems including inadequate mandates ; a lack of applicable doctrine ; differing views on what PoC includes ; challenges in integrating the diverse set of military , police , and civilian actors required for PoC ; a lack of the necessary capabilities ; uncertainty regarding when force should be used to protect civilians ; and how to protect civilians when the host state is the perpetrator of violence .
This PoC Military Reference Guide is intended to be a resource for military commanders and staffs who must consider PoC across the spectrum of military operations . Other interested readers may include international organizations , national militaries , training centers , and civilian and police officials who are also concerned with PoC .
Chapter 1 provides an introduction to PoC and presents the PoC framework used in the document , and notes that military forces support PoC in two general ways :
• Avoidance of Civilian Harm . Military forces act in accordance with the law of armed conflict — also known as international humanitarian law ( LOAC / IHL ) and other relevant bodies of law to minimize civilian harm . Additionally , military forces avoid actions that undermine efforts by other actors that improve human security .
• Deliberate PoC Actions . Military forces conduct offensive , defensive , and stability activities expressly intended to mitigate harm to civilians , including operations intended to create an environment conducive to PoC .
In this reference guide , PoC is defined as “ efforts to reduce civilian risks from physical violence , secure their rights to access essential services and resources , and contribute to a secure , stable , and just environment for civilians over the long-term .” PoC is a moral , political , legal , and strategic priority for all military operations . Communities on the ground and around the world expect uniformed personnel to protect the population ; failure to do so jeopardizes the credibility and legitimacy of the operation and can undermine other objectives . PoC has military and nonmilitary aspects and may be viewed as a layered set of issues , including physical protection from imminent violence , the provision of basic necessities , protection of human rights , and broader
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