Strengthening the protection of civilian infrastructure in armed conflict: Practical measures to operationalize IHL and reduce civilian harm

Abstract Strengthening the protection of civilian infrastructure – particularly that which is related to the provision of essential services – is crucial to preventing and mitigating both immediate and long-term human suffering in contemporary armed conflicts. Damage to and destruction of such infrastructure not only inflicts severe and enduring harm on civilian populations, but also significantly undermines recovery efforts and prospects for peace and stability. Despite the extensive and robust evidence of the patterns of civilian harm resulting from damage to and destruction of civilian infrastructure – including the widespread and long-lasting reverberating effects – as well as the increasing availability of tools for anticipating and assessing these impacts, it remains unclear how most militaries incorporate relevant considerations into operational planning and decision-making, especially when implementing the principles of proportionality and precautions in attack. Following a brief overview of the evolving legal and policy frameworks governing the protection of civilian infrastructure in armed conflict, this article outlines practical measures to facilitate compliance with, and strengthen the implementation of, relevant international humanitarian law rules and policy commitments with the aim of preventing and mitigating both direct and reverberating harm to civilians in the context of contemporary hostilities.