UN needs improved coordination on how to protect civilians from harm

UN agencies and departments across peacekeeping, humanitarian action and human rights are taking divergent stances when it comes to defending civilian safety, argued Gerrit Kurtz at an expert workshop he co-organized in Braunschweig with the German Association for the United Nations. The workshop, which brought together scholars from different policy fields who are all working broadly on the notion of civilian protection, sought to advance academic exchange and networking surrounding the topic.