The Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians Evaluating the Kigali principles from a historical perspective on UN peacekeeping missions

Rianne Keeler

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The ‘Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians’ are a non-binding set of 18 principles on the effective implementation of the protection of civilians in peacekeeping operations by the United Nations (UN). The principles were delivered at the end of the High-Level International Conference on the Protection of Civilians which was held in Rwanda on 28 and 29 May 2015 . The top 30 troop and police-contributing states and the top 10 financial-contributing states of UN peace operations, were present at the event. During the conference, the states were asked to endorse the Principles. The set of eighteen Principles cover a wide range of aspects related to UN peacekeeping missions but the function of the Kigali Principles is not to replace UN policies and strategies, but, instead, aim at stipulating and expanding the responsibilities of the troop-contributing states. The meaning of the principles should therefore be evaluated within the context of the development of peacekeeping. Peacekeeping has developed by actions and reactions, new elements that influence peacekeeping, such as the Kigali Principles, can be best reviewed in a historical perspective to understand their meaning.

Abstract:

The ‘Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians’ are a non-binding set of 18 principles on the effective implementation of the protection of civilians in peacekeeping operations by the United Nations (UN). The principles were delivered at the end of the High-Level International Conference on the Protection of Civilians which was held in Rwanda on 28 and 29 May 2015 . The top 30 troop and police-contributing states and the top 10 financial-contributing states of UN peace operations, were present at the event. During the conference, the states were asked to endorse the Principles. The set of eighteen Principles cover a wide range of aspects related to UN peacekeeping missions but the function of the Kigali Principles is not to replace UN policies and strategies, but, instead, aim at stipulating and expanding the responsibilities of the troop-contributing states. The meaning of the principles should therefore be evaluated within the context of the development of peacekeeping. Peacekeeping has developed by actions and reactions, new elements that influence peacekeeping, such as the Kigali Principles, can be best reviewed in a historical perspective to understand their meaning.

Keywords

Kigali Principles, Protection of Civilians

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 31. 7. 2017

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 31. 7. 2017
• Supervisor: prof. mr. Linda Senden
• Reader: Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / European Governance