As the UK increases its defence spending and readiness for military deployment, it needs to be well prepared to mitigate and respond to civilian harm. Yet today, it has no comprehensive system to do so, instead taking an ad hoc approach.
The laws of war are clear: civilians, and the places they depend on, can never be made the object of attack, and parties to conflict must take constant care to spare civilian life. Yet evidence from recent conflicts shows that even when these rules are followed, civilians are still harmed.
To deliver on its commitment to civilian protection, address emerging challenges and ensure compliance with its obligations under international law, the Ministry of Defence should establish a comprehensive institutional framework for civilian harm mitigation and response.
Learn more: Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: Lessons for UK defence.
Video: UK military lacks system to mitigate or respond to civilian harm.
