Addressing the longstanding protection issues is one of the main challenges of modern Peace Operations. Relevant international peace actors have been focusing on protection matters for years, particularly since 1999 when the UN Security Council – in its Resolution 1265 – concerned about the protection of civilians in armed conflicts. The resolution clarified that children, women, refugees and other vulnerable groups need special attention, an attention that has to be detailed in all peace mission mandates in accordance with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws.
On the year 2000, UNSCR 1325 “urged all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts” and called “all conflict parties to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict”.
Several things have developed since then and, at time being, the protection of civilians is a priority mandate and a “whole-of-mission” activity (not only a military task) in all modern Peace Operations, pursuant to many other Security Council Resolutions. Peace operators have the authority and the responsibility to provide protection when local Governments are unable or unwilling to do it.
In recent years, other topics have been included in the “protection concept” of modern Peace Operations, to guarantee their positive impact in crisis areas: Cultural heritage is a fundamental asset that needs to be protected, as well as natural resources (as we analyzed in our Magazine no. 4\2018).
The CoESPU, as an international Training Centre, Centre of Advanced Studies and Doctrinal Hub in the field of Stability Policing, contributes to address protection issues offering its student cutting edge courses and follow-ups. The “Protection of Civilian Course” (PoC), for instance, has reached its 18th edition, and the “Gender Protection Course” (GP), its 9th. Brand new “Environmental Protection” and “Cultural Heritage Protection” Courses are about to be launched in the near future.
In this first issue of 2019 of the CoESPU Magazine, that you might appreciate in its renewed graphic format, among other contributions, we provide an overview on UN doctrine and practices on Protection of Civilians with an outstanding piece written by Dimitry Titov (UN Rtd Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law & Security Institutions). Prof. Andrea Margelletti (CeSI President) delivers an interesting point of view on “The key of success for Peacekeeping Operations”, while Shelly Withman (Exe. Director of the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldier Initiative) offers a study on the prevention of the recruitment and use of Child Soldiers.
In the section devoted to “Pre-deployment Training and Lessons Learned”, Tomoko Matsuzawa (Japanese Human Rights Expert) talks about a “desirable pre-deployment training format”, useful to provide peace operators with a proper mindset. Lotta Hagman (Integrated Training Service – UN DPO) deepens the role of the Secretary-General in assisting Member states with appropriate training standards and materials.
To go in depth in the protection issues, Desirée Pangerc (CIELS University Campus - Padua) offers an interesting study on the importance of the anthropological training in the pre-deployment phase, and doctor Davide Perego goes into details of Malnutrition, Immune System and infection.
Wishing you a fruitful reading, please let my invite you all to interact with CoESPU Social Media and to get in touch with the Magazine editorial staff to explore the chance, if you wish, to offer written contributions to next numbers, becoming active members of our Stability Policing Community.
Brig. Gen. Giovanni BARBANO (CoESPU Director)
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| CoESPU MAGAZINE 1 2019_3.pdf | 43.49 MB |