Description
The protection of civilians by peacekeeping missions raises a number of difficult questions. Like R2P, there is an understandable focus on military options and the threat or use of force in order to advance the protection agenda. There are in fact three tiers of protection activities according to UN policy, only one of which involves military or police action. One of the other tiers relates to dialogue, mediation, and political processes, while the final one includes a broad peacebuilding and human rights agenda, with the aim of promoting a better environment for civilian protection. This paper looks at the tensions and synergies between these three tiers. Political engagement with armed groups who are potential perpetrators, for example, may not sit well with a military show of force or efforts to tackle impunity for human rights abuses. There may also be synergies and positive feedback loops. Understanding the way in which these three tiers interact can help us to assess how a holistic, integrated approach to the protection of civilians might be pursued.
