Protection of Civilians

Introduction

ATP3-07-6 Protection of Civilians is a US Army manual designed to help leaders reduce the impact of military operations on non-combatants. As they define it, “protection of civilians refers to efforts that reduce civilian risks from physical violence, secure their rights to essential services and resources, and contribute to a secure, stable, and just environment for civilians over the long-term.”

This manual has little bearing on individuals or groups in the US attempting to build their self-defense skills, but some notes below may be useful to some of you.

Protection of Civilians During Military Operations

• Civilians are vulnerable to the direct effects of combat operations and the indirect effects of having their lifestyles, livelihoods, and infrastructure disrupted
• Protection of civilians may be a consideration of a military operation or the underlying goal
• Mass Atrocity Response Operations (MARO) are those to defend civilians against specific targeting of civilians
• Insurgents may use civilians as shields or blend in with them during irregular warfare
• Most peace operations include mandates to protect civilians

Civilian Risks

Civilians face a variety of risks including collateral damage from armed conflict, deliberate targeting from terrorist attacks or mass atrocities, conflict-related sexual violence, and others. Army units must understand the relevant political,
military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, and time (PMESII-PT) considerations

Operational Environment

• Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) can help a commander make plans that include protection of civilians
• Civilian casualties undermine support for the military operation
• Social factors including religion, demographics, culture, gender, etc., may affect civilian risks (especially sectarian violence based on religious or ethnic grounds)
• Information will be used as a weapon by insurgents
• Infrastructure is often targeted (bridges, etc.) which can place civilians at risk

Intelligence

• Accurate intelligence is key for the protection of civilians
• Civilians will provide intelligence freely when they when they can do so safely and if it enhances their security
• Host-nation government officials, security forces, local leaders, and non-governmental individuals can be useful sources of information about civilians

MARO Plans

A mass-atrocity response operation plan will normally contain these 7 elements:

• Area security
• Shape-clear-hold-build
• Separation
• Safe areas
• Partner enabling
• Containment
• Defeat perpetrators

During training and exercises, commanders avoid focusing exclusively on fighting a hostile adversary. This could reinforce a shoot-first mentality.

Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness training should address issues like:

• The forms of violence anticipated in an area of operations (blood feuds, sexual violence, ethnic conflict, or suicide attacks)
• Likelihood that civilians carry weapons
• Level of host-nation rule of law
• Whether host-nation government/security forces target civilians deliberately
• Local customs, particularly those that are relevant for protection of civilians

Engagement with Leaders

• Engagements with key leaders and the population are important ways to coordinate with other actors and to support the protection of civilians
• Engagements with adversaries may at times be appropriate to reduce civilian risks
• An emphasis on civilian casualty mitigation is critical

Mission Variables

• Mission
• Enemy
• Terrain and Weather
• Troops and support Available,
  Time Available
• Civil Considerations

Escalation of Force

• Escalation of force is a process by which forces can escalate from military presence to nonlethal or lethal uses of force, with the goal of using minimal force to deal with the situation
• Escalation of force stages can include:
  • Verbal or visual warnings
  • Demonstrations
  • Nonlethal force
  • Warning shots
  • Disabling force
  • Lethal force
• Warnings can be conveyed by voice, signs, hand and arm signals, or using other visual means such as laser dazzlers or pyrotechnics

Bibliography

ATP3-07-6 Protection of Civilians. (2015) US Army.