Policy paper

UK paper on the Approach to Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

This 2020 paper summarises the UK’s work on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.

From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence
Published
27 August 2020
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Documents

UK Approach to Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

HTML

Details

In March 2010 the United Kingdom launched its national strategy on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (PoC). This paper, finalised in March 2020 in collaboration between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, provides an update to the UK approach to the Protection of Civilians. It builds on the 2010 strategy paper, and has been drafted following consultation with Non-Governmental Organisations, civil society, academics and others.

The update was written before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but the key principles referred to in this document on adherence to International Humanitarian Law and international human rights laws remain.

This 2020 paper summarises the UK’s Protection of Civilians activity in seven UK commitment areas:

  • political engagement
  • strengthening accountability
  • peace support operations
  • ensuring respect for International Humanitarian Law in UK military operations
  • strengthening State and non-State capacity
  • humanitarian action
  • offering refuge to those in need of protection.

Updates to this page

Published 27 August 2020

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content