Any object which is not a military objective. A civilian object must not be attacked unless it is used in a way that renders it a military objective. It may not be the target of reprisals. In case of doubt whether an object which is normally a civilian object (e.g., a place of worship, a house or other dwellings, a school) is a military objective, it must be considered as a civilian object. See Property; Cultural property; Environment; Water;
OUTLINE
LEGAL SOURCE
definition
Protection: general (+ principle of distinction)
HR, 23(g), 25, 26, 27, 28, 46, 47, 52, 53, 54
Protection: precautionary measures (See also Precautions against the effets of attacks; Precautions in attack)
Protection: prohibition of confiscation
Protection: prohibition of destruction and seizure unless required by military necessity (See also Property; Seizure)
Protection: against direct attack
Protection: prohibition of indiscriminate attacks (See also Indiscriminate attacks)
Protection: prohibition of pillage (See also Pillage)
GCI, 15/1 (see ICRC updated Commentary)
GCII, 18/1 (see ICRC updated Commentary)
Protection: presumption of civilian character
Protection: prohibition of reprisals (See also Reprisals)
Grave breach (See also Grave breaches)
specially protected objects
cultural objects (See Cultural objects)
indispensable for the survival of the civilian population (See Objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population)
works and installations containing dangerous forces (See Works and installations containing dangerous forces)
CASES
Myanmar, Escalation of the Conflict
Israel, House Demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [Parts D and E]
Iran/Iraq, UN Security Council Assessing Violations of International Humanitarian Law
ICTY, The Prosecutor v. Rajic [Part A., paras 39 and 42]
ICTY, The Prosecutor v. Strugar [Part B., para. 282]
Croatia, Prosecutor v. Rajko Radulovic and Others
Afghanistan, Operation “Enduring Freedom” [Part B.]
Afghanistan, Code of Conduct for the Mujahideen [Arts 19-21, 23-25, 52-53-58]
Georgia/Russia, Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in South Ossetia [Paras 37-47, 94-109]
Cambodia/Thailand, Border Conflict around the Temple of Preah Vihear
Mali, Destruction of World Cultural Heritage
Libya, Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2014/15)
Mali, Accountability for the Destruction of Cultural Heritage
Iraq, Forced displacement and deliberate destruction
Iraq: Situation of Internally Displaced Persons
Syria, Report by UN Commission of Inquiry (March 2017)
Afghanistan, Bombing of a Civilian Truck
ICRC, Statement - War in Cities ; What is at Stake?
Eastern Ukraine, Attacks Against and Military Use of Schools
Eastern Ukraine, OHCHR Report on the Situation: November 2016 - February 2017
South Sudan, Attack in Malakal UN Protection Site
Central African Republic/Democratic Republic of Congo/Uganda, LRA attacks
Central African Republic, Coup d'Etat
Central African Republic, No Class: When Armed Groups Use Schools
Somalia, IHL violations in Somalia's long-running armed conflict
South Sudan, Activities of Oil Companies
Somalia/Kenya, Al-Shabab Attacks
Somalia/US, Airstrikes in Somalia
Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory, Occupation and Natural Resources
Mexico, Recapture of Ovidio Guzmán, One of the Leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel
BIBLIOGRAPHIC RESOURCES
Suggested readings:
GEHRING Robert W., “Protection of Civilian Infrastructures”, in Law and Contemporary Problems, Vol. 42/2, 1978, pp. 86-139 JIA Bing Bing, “‘Protected Property’ and its Protection in International Humanitarian Law”, in LeidenJournal of International Law, Vol. 15/1, 2002, pp. 131-153. SASSÒLI Marco & CAMERON Lindsey, “The Protection of Civilian Objects Current State of the Law and Issues de Lege Ferenda”, in RONZITTI Natalino & VENTURINI Gabriella (eds), Current Issues in the International Humanitarian Law of Air Warfare, Utrecht, Eleven, 2005, pp. 35-74.