Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

Refworld documents relevant to situations of armed conflict, including international humanitarian law; civil-military coordination; refugee and IDP security; the civilian character of asylum; mine action; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; and humanitarian space. This "Special Feature" on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is regularly maintained and contains policy documents and operational guidance.

Protection of Civilians - General

• Statement by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6066th meeting, 14 Jan. 2009, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Protection of civilians in armed conflict"], UN Security Council, S/PRST/2009/1, 14 January 2009 (includes "Annex: Protection of civilians in armed conflict : Aide Memoire for the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians in armed conflict": p. 3-35)
• Improving the Safety of Civilians: A Protection Training Pack, ISBN 978-0-85598-616-2, Oxfam GB, 2009 (external link)
• Outcome of the Expert Consultation on the Issue of Protecting the Human Rights of Civilians in Armed Conflict : report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, A/HRC/11/31, 4 June 2009
• Sexual violence in conflict : report of the Secretary-General , UN Secretary-General (UNSG), A/67/792 - S/2013/149, 14 March 2013
• Other UN Security Council documents relating to the protection of civilians

International Humanitarian Law

• Enhancing Protection for Civilians in Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), September 2008
• Frequently Asked Questions on International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law in the Context of Armed Conflict, Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Humanitarian Action and Human Rights, March 2004
• Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field (First Geneva Convention), 75 UNTS 31, 12 August 1949
• Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea (Second Geneva Convention), 75 UNTS 85, 12 August 1949
• Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Third Geneva Convention), 75 UNTS 135, 12 August 1949
• Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention), 75 UNTS 287, 12 August 1949
  • Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1125 UNTS 3, 8 June 1977
  • Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 1125 UNTS 609, 8 June 1977

Civil-Military Coordination

• Civil-Military Guidelines and Reference for Complex Emergencies, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) / United Nations, March 2008
• United Nations Civil-Military Coordination Officer Field Handbook, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), March 2008
• UNHCR and the Military: A Field Guide, UNHCR, September 2006
• Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies - An IASC Reference Paper, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 28 June 2004
• Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets to Support United Nations Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), March 2003
• Civil-Military Coordination Policy, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), 9 September 2002
• Use of Military or Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys. Discussion Paper and Non-Binding Guidelines, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 14 September 2001
• A UNHCR Handbook for the Military on Humanitarian Operations, UNHCR, January 1995

Refugee and IDP Security

• Guidelines on International Protection No. 12: Claims for refugee status related to situations of armed conflict and violence under Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and the regional refugee definitions, HCR/GIP/16/12, 2 December 2016
• Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Provisional release, December 2007
• Staff Safety and Security Issues, Including Refugee Security, UNHCR Executive Committee, EC/58/SC/CRP.13, 4 June 2007
• Protection Guidelines Relating to Refugee Security, UNHCR, 3 May 1999

Civilian Character of Asylum

• The Paris Principles. Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated With Armed Forces or Armed Groups, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), February 2007
• Operational Guidelines on Maintaining the Civilian and Humanitarian Character of Asylum, UNHCR, September 2006
• Maintaining the Civilian and Humanitarian Character of Asylum, by Rosa da Costa, PPLA/2004/02, UNHCR, June 2004
• Under What Circumstances Can a Person Who Has Taken an Active Part in the Hostilities of an International or a Non-International Armed Conflict Become an Asylum Seeker?, by Stéphane Jaquemet, PPLA/2004/01, UNHCR, June 2004
• Conclusion on the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, UNHCR Executive Committee, No. 94 (LIII) - 2002, 8 October 2002
• The Civilian Character of Asylum: Separating Armed Elements from Refugees, Global Consultations on International Protection/Third Track, EC/GC/01/5, UNHCR, 19 February 2001
• The Security, Civilian and Humanitarian Character of Refugee Camps and Settlements: Operationalizing the "Ladder of Options", EC/50/SC/INF.4, UNHCR Executive Committee, 27 June 2000
• The Security, and Civilian and Humanitarian Character of Refugee Camps and Settlements, EC/49/SC/INF.2, UNHCR Executive Committee, 14 January 1999

Mine Action

• UNHCR Mine Action Operational Framework, UNHCR, September 2005
• Mine Action and Effective Coordination: The United Nations Inter-Agency Policy, UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action, 6 June 2005
• Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes, UN Mine Action Service, February 2005
• Convention on Cluster Munitions, CCM/77, 30 May 2008 (not yet entered into force)
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, A/RES/61/106, Annex I, 13 December 2006 (entry into force: 3 May 2008)
• Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, 18 September 1997 (entry into force: 1 March 1999)
• Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (and Protocols) (As Amended on 21 December 2001), 1342 UNTS 137, 10 October 1980 (entry into force: 2 December 1983)
  • Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II) (As Amended on 3 May 1996), 10 October 1980 (entry into force: 3 December 1998)
  • Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V), 23 November 2003 (entry into force: 12 November 2006)

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration

• Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration: A Practical Field and Classroom Guide, ISBN 1-896551-54-8, GTZ, NODEFIC, PPC and SNDC, December 2004 (external link)

Humanitarian Space

• "Protecting People in Conflict and Crisis - Responding to the Challenges of a Changing World", Opening Address: "Humanitarian Space", by Erika Feller, Assistant High Commissioner - Protection, UNHCR (Oxford, 22 September 2009)
• Background Document: Preserving Humanitarian Space, Protection and Security, WO/0803/2583/7, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 26 February 2008
• Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups. A Manual for Practitioners, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), January 2006

Documents Related to the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

• All reports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• All reports by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
• All reports relating to "Civilian character of asylum" by all sources
• All reports relating to "Camps / Armed attacks on camps" by all sources