1. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Introduction to
Protection of Civilians
Introduction to
Protection of Civilians

2. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Learning Outcomes
 Explain how and why POC has become a priority
objective for UN PKOs and how the failure to protect
civilians can affect the credibility of the mission and the
UN
 Describe the types of violence facing civilians,
protection actors and the role of peacekeepers in
protecting against those threats
 Identify the range of legal rules, authorities and
obligations that govern the actions of peacekeepers
with regards to the protection of civilians

3. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Contents
 What is protection
 The types of violence against civilians
 Who protects civilians
 Importance of POC
 Failure to Provide Protection to Civilians
 International legal instruments and core legal
framework for peacekeeping operations
 Summary of authorities, obligations and prohibitions

4. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
What is Protection?
(Three Approaches)

5. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
What types of violence are likely to
be seen in the area of operations?

6. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Threats
to life
Threats
to life
Threats
to Physical
Integrity
Threats
to Physical
Integrity
Threats
to
Freedom
Threats
to
Freedom
Threats
to property
Threats
to property
“The consequences (of violence) for civilians have been devastating, as
armed groups have often sought to overcome their military inferiority
by employing strategies that flagrantly violate international law. These
range from deliberate attacks against civilians, including sexual
violence, to attacks on civilian objects (targets) such as schools, to
abduction and forced recruitment and using civilians to shield military
objectives. The risks for civilians are further increased as militarily
superior parties, in fighting an enemy that is often difficult to identify,
respond with means and methods of warfare that may violate the
principles of distinction and proportionality, giving rise to further
civilian casualties.”

7. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Who provides protection to civilians
(and where do peacekeepers fit)?

8. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Who Protects Civilians?
 The Host State Government
 UN Peacekeeping Operations
 The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
 The UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR)
 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
 UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund)
 NGOs, INGOs, Civil Society Organizations etc

9. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Why is the protection of civilians
getting special attention?

10. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
The Importance of POC
 The UN Security Council
Resolutions
 All peacekeepers are expected
to promote protection
throughout their operational
functions
 POC is increasingly coming
to define the reputation of UN
missions.

11. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
DPKO/DFS Operational Concept on POC
Range of POC Activities:Range of POC Activities:
The Three “Tiers”The Three “Tiers”

12. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
The Three “Tiers”

13. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Four “Phases” of Protection Response

14. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Four “Phases” of Protection Response
- Patrolling
- Human rights
monitoring
- Mediation and
conflict
prevention
- Key leaders
outreach
- Intensify
patrolling,
military and
police presence
- Interposition
- Political
pressure
- Human rights
monitoring
- Offensive and
defensive
operations
- Mitigation of
suffering
-Evacuation
- Human rights
- Humanitarian
assistance
- Mediation
- Human rights
investigation
- Humanitarian
assistance
- Liaison to
reestablish ties
- Readjust
security
- It should be integrated into theIt should be integrated into the
contingent planning processcontingent planning process
- Existing constrains (mobility,Existing constrains (mobility,
communications, surveillance etc)communications, surveillance etc)
indicate the essentiality of HUMINTindicate the essentiality of HUMINT

15. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Failure to Provide
Protection to Civilians
What are the consequences when
peacekeepers are not able to
protect civilians from harm?
What are the consequences when
peacekeepers are not able to
protect civilians from harm?

16. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Failure to Provide
Protection to Civilians
International
support
Host nation
Consent
Credibility
Legitimacy
Tactical issues
regarding
operations
and security

17. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
International legal instruments and core
legal framework for peacekeeping
operations
 UN Charter
 International
Humanitarian Law
 International Human
Rights Law
 Refugee Law
 Rome Statute of the
International Criminal
Court
 UN Charter
 International
Humanitarian Law
 International Human
Rights Law
 Refugee Law
 Rome Statute of the
International Criminal
Court
 Security Council
Mandate
 Mission Concept,
CONOPS and Operation
Orders
 Force Commander and
Police Commissioner
Directives on the Use of
Force
 ROE & DUF
 SOFA and Host state law
 Security Council
Mandate
 Mission Concept,
CONOPS and Operation
Orders
 Force Commander and
Police Commissioner
Directives on the Use of
Force
 ROE & DUF
 SOFA and Host state law

18. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Understanding Mandate Language

19. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
UNAMSIL 1999
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of
the United Nations, decides that in the
discharge of its mandate UNAMSIL may
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 taking into account the
responsibilities of the Government of
Sierra Leone

20. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
UNMISS 2011
“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations…
authorizes . . . the following tasks…
Advising and assisting the Government . . . including military
and police . . . in fulfilling its responsibility to protect civilians,
in compliance with international humanitarian, human rights,
and refugee law;
(v) Deterring violence including through proactive deployment
and patrols in areas at high risk of conflict, within its
capabilities and in its areas of deployment, protecting civilians
under imminent threat of physical violence, in particular when
the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is not providing
such security;
(vi) Providing security for United Nations and humanitarian
personnel, installations and equipment necessary for
implementation of mandated tasks,. . .

21. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Authorities, Obligations and
Prohibitions
 Authorities
 Obligations
 Prohibitions

22. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Authorities
 ALL UN Peacekeepers (including UN civilian staff)
have an INHERENT RIGHT to defend themselvesdefend themselves, if
necessary, by using force - up to and including deadly
force.
 Peacekeepers who are authorized under a Chapter VIIunder a Chapter VII
mandate to use force to implement the mandatemandate to use force to implement the mandate,
including to protect civilians under imminent threat of
violence are AUTHORIZED to use all means - up to
and including the use of force – to prevent, pre-empt,
and respond effectively to acts of or imminent threat of
violence against civilians.

23. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Obligations
 Protect civilians under imminent threat of violence
(within capabilities and within the area of
responsibility)
 Provide protection impartially and according to
need; without reference to ethnicity, race, religion,
social or economic status, sex, or political
affiliation
 Act without prejudice to the responsibility of the
host state to protect civilians within its borders

24. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Obligations cont…
 Conduct themselves in a professional and
disciplined manner at all times
 Understand the mandate and mission and comply
with their provisions
 Respect the law of the host country
 Treat the inhabitants of the host country with
respect, courtesy and consideration
 Act with impartiality, integrity, tact and discretion
 Obey UN superiors and respect the chain of
command

25. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Prohibitions
 From employing torture or inhuman and degrading treatment
under any circumstances
 Acting in revenge or with malice, in particular when dealing with
prisoners, detainees or people in the mission’s custody
 Committing attacks against civilians or civilian objects
 From attacking or rendering useless objects indispensable to the
survival of the population
 Using the position as peacekeeper for personal advantage
 Engaging in acts of sexual, physical or psychological abuse, or
 Soliciting or accepting any material reward, gift or honors

26. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Use of Force to Protect Civilians
Tactical Level
 The military / police commander on the scenemilitary / police commander on the scene has the
elements to judge and the authority to react to an
incident with the use of force according to the ROE /
DUF
 The premise is that such commander (normally
company / FPU and lower level commanders)) has fullhas full
knowledge and has been adequately trained on ROE /knowledge and has been adequately trained on ROE /
DUFDUF at pre-deployment training
 Apart from mastering the ROE it is highly necessary to
understand the operational environment and planunderstand the operational environment and plan
accordinglyaccordingly (intelligence driven operations)

27. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Where to Seek Legal Guidance
in Missions
 Mandate, Mission Concept, CONOPS, Mission
Protection of Civilians Strategy, Operation Orders,
Work Plans, ROE, DUF, IHL, etc
 Senior Mission Leadership to interpret, articulate and
make decisions
 When have questions, refer to Commanding
officers/managers
 Legal Adviser to be consulted
 Refer to UN HQ

28. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
Q&A

29. UN DPKO - Tactical Level Mission-Specific Scenario-based Exercises on Protection of Civilians
‫اااا‬
謝謝
thank you
merci
спасибо
gracias
http://www.peacekeepingresourcehub.unlb.org