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Select Documents on Protection of Civilians

The following represent a selection of current materials related to Protection of Civilians. If you have an interest in the subject matter, we can recommend them as worthwhile reading.

United Nations

Date                 

Title

13 Apr 1998 Secretary-General’s Report on the Situation in Africa (The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in AfricaThe protection of civilians concept first arose in this report in which the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, identified protecting civilians in situations of conflict as a ‘humanitarian imperative’.  The previous year the Security Council had considered the need for an international effort in Africa and requested a report investigating the sources of conflict in Africa, ways to prevent and address those conflicts, and how to find long-term peace and economic growth. The report found that conflict in Africa posed a major challenge to peace, stability and prosperity in that continent.  Since 1970, more than 30 wars had been fought in Africa.  In 1996, 14 of the 53 countries of Africa were affected by armed conflicts and these conflicts accounted for more than half of all war-related deaths worldwide and more than 8 million refugees, returnees and displaced persons.  In addition, it found that in those conflicts the main aim has increasingly been not just the destruction of armies, but of civilians and entire ethnic groups.
2000 The Report of the Panel on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (The Brahimi Report) The report addressed many problems in UN peacekeeping operations.  In particular it called for the need for ‘robust doctrine and realistic mandates’.  In the past the UN had often been unable to respond effectively to challenges on the ground and the Brahimi Report stressed the need for peacekeepers, once deployed, to carry out their mandates ‘professionally and successfully.’  Moreover, UN peacekeepers, whether they be troops or police, who witness violence against civilians, ‘should be presumed to be authorised to stop it, within their means, in support of basic UN principles’.
Jul 2006 UNMIS Steering Committee on Human Rights and Protection, Guidance Note on United Nations Activities in Support of Human Rights and the Protection of Civilians in Sudan
2009 MONUC Protection Cluster, Protection in Practice: Practical Protection Handbook for Peacekeepers
14 Jan 2009 Statement by the President of the Security Council (Protection of Civilians)
Nov 2009 Protecting Civilians in the Context of UN Peacekeeping Operations: Successes, Setbacks and Remaining Challenges, commissioned by DPKO and OCHA, Victoria Holt & Glyn TaylorIn this report gaps were found between the United Nations Security Council’s aims to protect civilians and the UN’s capacity to do so.  The report highlighted a number of these gaps, which included broken chains from early warning to developing mandates to the mission level, gaps in guidance, a lack of understanding of Security Council intentions, and a lack of mission-wide strategies for the Protection of Civilians.  In response, the report made a number of recommendations that included that the UN Secretariat develop guidance on the Protection of Civilians and stressed the need for partnerships between Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries, along with the need to manage expectations.
Sep 2010 Victims of violence: A review of the Protection of Civilians concept and its relevance to UNHCR’s mandate
14 Oct 2010 Secretary-General’s Report on Support to African Union peacekeeping operations authorized by the United Nations
Nov 2010 Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians During Armed Conflict Monday, Security Council Chamber (GA-TSC-01)
 2011 Aide Memoire for the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, released by Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Policy Development and Studies BranchIn 2011 the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs updated its Aide Memoire For the Consideration of Issues Pertaining to the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.  The purpose of this document is to identify the key concerns for protection of civilians in armed conflicts  and outline actions which the United Nations Security Council can take to respond to these concerns.  The revised Aide Memoire addresses a number of new themes including humanitarian assistance and preparedness; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; security sector reform; and specific measures on children affected by armed conflict and conflict-related sexual violence.  It is envisaged this document will ensure greater consistency regarding how the Council consider and addresses protection of civilians in this context.

 

United Nations Security Council Resolutions

Security Council Resolution          

Date

Purpose

Security Council Resolution 1265 1999 This was the first resolution to address the topic of the protection of civilians during armed conflict.  In it the resolution condemned the intentional targeting of civilians during armed conflict and called upon all parties concerned to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.  This resolution expressed a willingness to ‘consider how peacekeeping mandates might better address the negative impact of armed conflict on civilians’, and to respond to situations where civilians were being targeted or where the distribution of humanitarian assistance to civilians was deliberately being obstructed.  In addition, the resolution requested that UN personnel involved in peacekeeping activities had appropriate training in international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.
Security Council Resolution 1270 1999 This resolution established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to assist with the implementation of the Lome Peace Accord. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Council authorised UNAMSIL to ‘take the necessary action to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel and, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, to afford protection to civilians under imminent threat of physical violence…’
Security Council Resolution 1296 2000 “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”
Security Council Resolution 1674 2006 “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”
Security Council Resolution 1894 2009 This resolution stressed that mandated protection activities be given priority when decisions are made about using capacities and resources in the implementation of mandates.  This included the use of information and intelligence resources.
Security Council Resolution 1906 2009 During the late 1990’s the United Nations Security Council began specifically mandating the protection of civilians as part of United National peacekeeping operations. This is now commonly referred to as ‘robust’ peace keeping. This trend has continued well into the present day. In 2009 the UNSC issued resolution 1906 on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo. In extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the DRC, the resolution provided that “(A) Ensures the effective protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel and facilities.”
Security Council Resolution 1919 2010 Calls upon UNMIS to implement a mission-wide civilian protection strategy, comprehensively throughout the mission area, including the implementation of tribal conflict resolution mechanisms, and urges UNMIS to enhance its presence in areas at high risk of localized conflict, including by conducting frequent patrols.

 

OCHA

 

Council of the European Union

 

International Forum on the Challenges of Peace Operations 2010

 

Stimson Centre

 

International Crisis Group

 

Other

 

Media Releases

Publication

Date

Article Title

BBC News 24 Sep 2011 “DR Congo rapes ‘defy belief’, says UN”
BBC News 17 June 2010  “Kyrgyzstan crisis: UN says 400,000 displaced by clashes”
The Guardian 3 Sep 2010 “UN ‘ignored Congo rape warnings’”