Protecting Civilians: Obligations of Troops in International Law

This book examines the obligations of troops to prevent serious abuses of human rights towards civilians under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. It analyses the duty to intervene to stop the commission of serious abuses of human rights by analysing the meaning and practical consequences for troops, in terms of civilian protection, of the Article 1 duty to respect and ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions; of the duty to secure human rights (found in most international human rights treaties); and of the duty to restore law and order in an occupation.

The book also analyzes the extent of troops' obligations to provide protection in light of various different operational and legal contexts in and discusses 'grey areas' and lacuna of coverage. A discussion of whether new approaches are needed, for example where operations are undertaken explicitly to protect people from serious violations of their human rights follows; and the book concludes by offering some guidelines for troops faced with such violations.

• Highly topical analysis of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the context of occupation law and peace support
• Interdisciplinary analysis of a difficult issue, cutting across international law, international relations, the rules of armed conflict, and the Geneva Conventions
• Offers a completely up to date account of key military operations both prior to the responsibility to protect policy, and after its adoption, including the most recent MONUC and AMIS/UNMIS operations