WASHINGTON, DC (May 24, 2016)—Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Patrick Cammaert of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps has joined the board of Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) effective immediately, bringing deep experience in United Nations peacekeeping operations to CIVIC’s mission to improve protection for civilians caught in conflicts around the world.
“We are excited and grateful that Maj. Gen. Cammaert has joined the board,” said CIVIC’s Executive Director Federico Borello. “His record of leadership in peacekeeping around the world—especially in African countries—is deeply welcome as our organization launches new programs in South Sudan and the DRC aimed at helping the UN carry out its civilian protection mandate in its peacekeeping operations.”
CIVIC calls on and advises international organizations, governments, militaries, and armed non-state actors to adopt and implement policies to prevent civilian harm. When civilians are harmed CIVIC advocate for the provision of amends and post-harm assistance. CIVIC brings the voices of civilians themselves to those making decisions affecting their lives.
“By helping make militaries more responsive to civilians, CIVIC is filling a vital gap in human rights work,” Cammaert said. “I hope my experience in training military leaders and the soldiers under their command will add to that effort. I am honored to join the board.”
Background on Maj. Gen. Cammaert:
Cammaert has served in Cambodia as Sector Commander for UNTAC, in Bosnia-Herzegovina as Assistant Chief of Staff for UNPROFOR, in Ethiopia and Eritrea as a Force Commander for UNMEE, in the Democratic Republic of Congo as General Officer Commanding the Eastern Division for MONUSCO, and at the United Nations as Military Advisor to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
Since his retirement from the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps in 2007, Cammaert has advised the senior management of the DPKO, the UN Development Programme, and UN Women on Integrated Training Development, the protection of civilians from the threat of physical violence, and sexual gender-based violence in armed conflict, respectively. Other responsibilities have included carrying out UN fact finding/assessment and evaluation missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Sudan, Haiti, Liberia, Chad, and Sri Lanka. He led the UN Secretary General’s Board of Inquiry for certain incidents in Gaza in 2014. Cammaert is also a regular senior mentor at UN Senior Leadership Courses and at Intensive Orientation Courses for new force commanders.
In addition to CIVIC, Cammaert sits on the board of the Mukomeze Foundation, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, and the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. In 2015 he was a member of the High Level Advisory Group for the global study on UNSCR 1325.
Cammaert graduated at the Dutch Higher Command and Staff College and the Top Management Course at the Armed Forces War College in The Hague.
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Notes to editors:
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)’s mission is to improve protection for civilians caught in conflicts around the world. We call on and advise international organizations, governments, militaries, and armed non-state actors to adopt and implement policies to prevent civilian harm. When civilians are harmed we advocate for the provision of amends and post-harm assistance. We bring the voices of civilians themselves to those making decisions affecting their lives.
For more information, contact Christopher Allbritton at +1 (917) 310-4785 or chris@civiliansinconflict.org.
