US Program Weekly Update – July 6, 2017
An estimated 50,000 civilians remain in the city of Raqqa, paralyzed by fear of Coalition airstrikes and shelling on the ground, but prevented from escaping by Islamic State fighters.
US Program Weekly Update – June 29, 2017
As part of our expanded online presence and making our work more accessible, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) will be posting occasional updates to our various programs. Our US program is helmed by Special Advisor, Daniel R. Mahanty. We hope you find it useful as a snapshot of our work around the world to…
Don’t Loosen the Rules on Civilian Casualties During Drone Strikes
Senior Advisor For Civic’s US Program Raniel R. Mahanty has some thoughts on US use of drones and civilan harm. Since Donald Trump took office, the number of civilian casualties caused by U.S. drone strikes has skyrocketed. Now, a dozen human rights groups are calling on the United States to strengthen and preserve its commitment to avoid harming civilians outside…
US Program Update – June 23, 2017
As part of our expanded online presence and making our work more accessible, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) will be posting occasional updates to our various programs. Our US program, which is helmed by Special Advisor, Daniel R. Mahanty, is the first one. We hope you find it useful as a snapshot of our work around the world to protect civilians trapped in conflict.
An Open Letter to National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster: Strengthen, Don’t Weaken, Drone Standards
Reports suggest that President Trump may be tempted to change or even rescind the 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) issued by the Obama administration, which imposed a standard of “near certainty” of no civilian casualties when US forces use lethal force outside of “areas of active hostilities.” The reports say the Trump administration may seek to eliminate…
After Release of US ‘Playbook,’ Many Unanswered Questions About Drones
On Aug. 6, following an order by a federal judge in a suit brought by the ACLU, President Obama finally released his “playbook” for the use of lethal force against terrorist targets. The guidance—more specifically, the “procedures for approving direct action against terrorist targets located outside the United States and areas of active hostilities”—is…
Obama’s Executive Order on Civilian Protection: A Timeline
It took a decade of advocacy and practical progress on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan to get to President Obama’s executive order on the protection of civilians, which was released on July 1. The effort included numerous players including non-governmental organizations and military and government officials—all concerned about the lack of standing civilian harm…
Why Is The Executive Order On the Use of Force So Important for Civilians?
President Obama just released Executive Order — United States Policy on Pre- and Post-Strike Measures to Address Civilian Casualties in U.S. Operations Involving the Use of Force, and it’s hugely important to civilians caught in conflicts around the world—this is what we at CIVIC have been working toward for the last decade. And though there…
US: Civilian Protection ‘Fundamentally Consistent’ With National Interests
In an historic move on Friday, President Barack Obama issued an executive order which puts civilian protection at the heart of US foreign and military policy for the first time. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is grateful to the president for this demonstration of American leadership when it comes to protecting civilians at risk…