Law as a Tool to Improve the Protection of Civilians

Monitoring and investigating is a prerequisite to stop human rights (HR) violations and to prevent new ones. It is a particularly difficult and dangerous task; even more when violations are committed in the middle of protracted armed conflicts (AC). In these situations, HR and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations are common and States are not always able and/or willing to put an end to them and to punish their perpetrators. The role of the international community and the civil society is therefore crucial. This discussion paper will touch upon ways, especially legal ones, to improve this fundamental task of monitoring/investigating HR in AC, in general and in particular in Africa