Civilian status and the new security agendas

This chapter discusses the significance of civilian status for the protection and security of people caught up in conflict. It examines some of the factors and trends shaping the way political and military actors define civilian status in practice, and looks at how this in turn impacts on civilian security. It considers factors that might lead belligerents either to respect or disregard IHL in relation to civilians, and some of the difficulties of implementing international law in recent conflicts. The chapter concludes by considering some of the humanitarian implications of trends in the policy and practice of states, belligerents and humanitarian agencies.