PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS ACROSS INTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS: MEASURING ROBUSTNESS AND DESIGNING AHEMISPHERIC ADAPTATION

Abstract

This article compares how the UN, NATO, EU, and AU conceptualize and implement the Protection of
Civilians (PoC) through the lens of normative robustness. Based on constructivism, four dimensions are
operationalized – validity claims, social acceptance, rule-based practice, and implementation – to assess
convergences and forms of contestation among organizations. The method combines document review with a
search protocol and a structured coding scheme. The findings point to a consolidation of the moral-legal
imperative to protect civilians, but variations exist regarding thresholds for the use of force, collateral damage
mitigation, mandate design, and learning mechanisms. The UN presents high normative density and missionlevel guidelines; NATO emphasizes operationalization in planning and deployment; the EU mainstreams
protection in CSDP instruments; and the AU incorporates PoC into regional operations, with heterogeneous
capabilities. The conclusion draws implications for the Western Hemisphere such as training, interoperability,
and civil-military coordination aiming to strengthen PoC as a norm.