Petal 2 - A2, Maison de la Paix
International Studies Association (ISA) at United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI): “The United Nations At 75”
Protection of civilians in armed conflict is a focus of much scholarly debate and has become one of the most important objectives under the mandates of UN missions. The operationalization and effectiveness of protection of vulnerable civilian populations and those engaged in their assistance and protection have become significant challenges for both practitioners and policy makers. This panel examines various aspects of protection including the concept of protection, existing mandates of protection, protection of those who protect, protection of IDPs and refugees, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and international protection strategies for civilians under conditions of no state protection.
For the purposes of this panel, the definition of protection goes beyond physical protection and includes all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws. The panel analyses the challenges to protection, as well as the gap between established international norms on protection and their practice and implementation. Based on analyses of different armed conflict settings, it focuses on the realities and drawbacks of current protection strategies, with the aim to devise policy recommendations and alternatives towards more effective protection strategies. The panel examines various aspects of protection including empowerment, resilience, non-dependence on the protector and the prioritization of human rights and liberties.
Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Daniela Irrera, University of Catania, Italy
Pinar Gozen Ercan, Hacettepe University, Turkey
Daniela Nascimento, School of Economics of the University of Coimbra, and Center for Social Studies, Portugal
Timea Spitka, Masaryk University, Czech Republic, and Hebrew University, Israel
Dêlidji Eric Degila, Senior Researcher at the Graduate Institute's Global Migration Centre and Visiting Faculty, Department of Political Science/International Relations
This is an ISA event, co-sponsored by the Global Governance Centre and by Stephanie Hofmann, Professor, International Relations/Political Science, in her capacity as an ISA/UNAI Committee member.