Responsibility for maintaining law and order generally falls to civil authorities such as the police and other law enforcement agencies that are equipped, organized and trained for such operations. The primary role of most state armed forces, by contrast, is to protect their country against external threats (international armed conflict, IAC) and to deal with internal, non-international armed conflict (NIAC). However, armed forces may be called upon to support civil authorities where the level of threat, the degree of violence or the scale of the challenge exceeds the capabilities of traditional law enforcement agencies.

In essence, this means to protect life, security and property and maintaining the rule of law. Because military forces are often not equipped, organized or trained for such missions, there is a risk they could cause harm to citizens and unnecessary damage to possessions and property. Hence, today I am speaking with two ICRC experts and Colonel Susan Mwanga, from the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces on how military personnel can reduce this risk , as outlined in the latest ICRC handbook, along with .guidance in preparing for and conducting security operations in such a way as to reduce harm to people affected by them.

For more information: https://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/humanity-in-war-podcast/