Protection of Civilians
Protection broadly encompasses activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of all individuals in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law. During protracted armed conflict, civilians, particularly women, have increasingly become the victims of violence and insecurity. In 1999, the Security Council first requested a dedicated report by the UN Secretary-General on PoC, followed by the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1265 (1999), which recognized the need for protection against specific threats targeted at civilians in armed conflict and outlined operational obligations to highlight ways to protect civilian populations experiencing armed conflict.
The NGOWG WPS focuses specifically on women’s protection in armed conflict, requesting the Security Council to recognize the broad range of ways women are affected by conflict and to harness international law to mandate needed protection in peacekeeping missions. The Council is also requested to focus on how to concretely implement existing norms related to the protection of civilians, including through the resources available in the Protection of Civilians Aide Memoire (S/PRST/2010/25), to ensure women’s protection. The NGOWG WPS advocates for the deployment of Women’s Protection Advisers as well as the provision of a number of services to female survivors of conflict, including psychosocial services for survivors of sexual violence.
Protection of Civilians
Protection broadly encompasses activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of all individuals in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law. During protracted armed conflict, civilians, particularly women, have increasingly become the victims of violence and insecurity. In 1999, the Security Council first requested a dedicated report by the UN Secretary-General on PoC, followed by the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1265 (1999), which recognized the need for protection against specific threats targeted at civilians in armed conflict and outlined operational obligations to highlight ways to protect civilian populations experiencing armed conflict.
The NGOWG WPS focuses specifically on women’s protection in armed conflict, requesting the Security Council to recognize the broad range of ways women are affected by conflict and to harness international law to mandate needed protection in peacekeeping missions. The Council is also requested to focus on how to concretely implement existing norms related to the protection of civilians, including through the resources available in the Protection of Civilians Aide Memoire (S/PRST/2010/25), to ensure women’s protection. The NGOWG WPS advocates for the deployment of Women’s Protection Advisers as well as the provision of a number of services to female survivors of conflict, including psychosocial services for survivors of sexual violence.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Protection of Civilians (July 2010)
The forthcoming debate on this issue will follow-up on the implementation of SCR 1894 (2009). The Council should regularly employ the Aide-Memoire on the protection of civilians (PRST 2009/1), which highlights objectives for Council action specifically to protect women, and to ensure their participation in the prevention and resolution of armed conflict. Specific entry points for the Council on women, peace and security include:
- Where women and girls are reported to be at risk of widespread or systematic violence in countries not regularly on the Council’s agenda, the Council should follow the situation closely, request relevant briefings and consider appropriate measures to protect.
- When establishing and renewing state-specific sanctions regimes, the Council should consider measures against parties to armed conflict who commit rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls (1820 OP5).
The forthcoming debate on this issue will follow-up on the implementation of SCR 1894 (2009). The Council should regularly employ the Aide-Memoire on the protection of civilians (PRST 2009/1), which highlights objectives for Council action specifically to protect women, and to ensure their participation in the prevention and resolution of armed conflict. Specific entry points for the Council on women, peace and security include:
- Where women and girls are reported to be at risk of widespread or systematic violence in countries not regularly on the Council’s agenda, the Council should follow the situation closely, request relevant briefings and consider appropriate measures to protect.
- When establishing and renewing state-specific sanctions regimes, the Council should consider measures against parties to armed conflict who commit rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls (1820 OP5).
Relevant Resources
