International Law and Policy on the Protection of Civilians

Stuart Casey-Maslen is the author of The Right to Life under International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2021), the first comprehensive treatment of this fundamental right. He has worked in dozens of conflict-affected countries over the last thirty years and teaches at the University of Pretoria in South Africa on the Freedom from Violence in Africa Programme. Tobias Vestner leads the Security and Law Programme at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). He teaches and researches on the intersection between security policy and international law and is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, Fellow at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (NATO), and reserve Legal Advisor at the Swiss Armed Forces Staff.

• Introduction; Part I. The International Legal Framework: 1. Jus ad Bellum and the protection of civilians; 2. Protection of civilians under international humanitarian law; 3. Protection of civilians under human rights law; 4. The protection of refugees; 5. Disarmament law and the protection of civilians; 6. International criminal law and the protection of civilians; 7. The prohibition of sexual and gender-based violence; Part II. Specific Protection of Certain High-Risk Groups: 8. Protection of women in armed conflict; 9. Protection of children in armed conflict; 10. Protection of persons with disabilities in armed conflict; 11. Protection of older persons in armed conflict; 12. Protection of medical and humanitarian personnel; 13. Protection of internally displaced persons; 14. Protection of LGBTI civilians; Part III. State and Institutional Policies on the Protection of Civilians: 15. The United Nations and the protection of civilians; 16. NATO and the protection of civilians; 17. The African Union and the protection of civilians; 18. The European Union and the protection of civilians; 19. The ICRC and the protection of civilians; 20. Switzerland and the protection of civilians; 21. The United Kingdom and the protection of civilians; 22. The United States and the protection of civilians; 23. Brazil and the protection of civilians; 24. India and the protection of civilians; 25. Norway and the protection of civilians; 26. South Africa and the protection of civilians; 27. The future of protecting civilians; Conclusion; Appendices: Appendix 1. Overview of relevant international law; Appendix 2. The two types of armed conflict under International Humanitarian Law.

'International Law and Policy on the Protection of Civilians is a masterful guide to the multiple legal, political and normative influences that are transforming our understanding of obligations to protect civilians from violence. The result is a rich depiction not only of sources of civilian protection, but of the complex ways in which expectations evolve in a decentralised international system. Casey-Maslen and Vestner have rendered an invaluable service by preparing a volume that will be indispensable to state officials, military leaders, non-governmental organisations and anyone who cares about protecting the innocent from the ravages of conflict.' Mitt Regan, McDevitt Professor of Jurisprudence, Co-Director, Center on National Security, Georgetown Law Center