Page 33 - CoESPU Magazine 2017-3

In exceptional circumstances peacekeepers may in fact become full parties to the conflict and thus will
become subject to the full extent of International Humanitarian Law.
IHL establishes the responsibilities of armed actors, restricting the use of certain methods and means of
warfare, striking a balance
between military necessity and
the principle of humanity (the
protection of persons affected
by armed conflict). All parties
to the conflict – including
government forces, rebels and
other armed groups – are bound
by IHL and it is a priority for
UN peacekeepers to be familiar
with it in order to be able to
recognize every possible
breach and thus properly
exercise their protection of
civilians mandate. International
Humanitarian Law is one of the
milestones in the CoESPU
training activities, as it is the teaching of the International Human Rights Law, two branches of the
International Law that are deeply related with each other and establish a relevant legal framework for
the modern peace missions.
Nothing more appropriate,
considering the current
situation in conflict areas,
could be done, by the IIHL,
than devoting part of this
Round Table to gender
issues related to the
application of IHL. By
introducing the sessions
dedicated to the analysis of
Sexual Gender Based
Violence (SGBV), the
integration of a gender
perspective into the IHL,
but also to the problems
related to the treatment of persons deprived of their freedom, the importance of the topic and the
sensitivity of the international community to the theme have been emphasized and, in the writer's view,

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