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 (November 2010)
In November, the Security Council is expected to receive a report from the Secretary-General and hold an Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians. The Council should regularly use 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. Additional women, peace and security entry points for the Council include:
- Promote gender parity as a critical element of its ongoing commitments to mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes
- Take forward relevant indicators as contained in the report of the SG (S/2010/498) for use in tracking Resolution 1325
- Ensure implementation of resolution 1894 includes disaggregated data by sex, and that strategies and operation plans articulate the different protection needs and responses of women and men.
- Ensure its own experts in the informal group on Protection of Civilians is familiar with the relevant elements of Women, Peace and Security resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889 and their practical application.
In November, the Security Council is expected to receive a report from the Secretary-General and hold an Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians. The Council should regularly use 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. Additional women, peace and security entry points for the Council include:
- Promote gender parity as a critical element of its ongoing commitments to mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes
- Take forward relevant indicators as contained in the report of the SG (S/2010/498) for use in tracking Resolution 1325
- Ensure implementation of resolution 1894 includes disaggregated data by sex, and that strategies and operation plans articulate the different protection needs and responses of women and men.
- Ensure its own experts in the informal group on Protection of Civilians is familiar with the relevant elements of Women, Peace and Security resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889 and their practical application.
Relevant Resources
