Règle correspondante
Djibouti
Practice Relating to Rule 7. The Principle of Distinction between Civilian Objects and Military Objectives
Djibouti’s Manual on International Humanitarian Law (2004) states that IHL “has several principles [one of which is] … distinction: the obligation to always distinguish between … military objectives and civilian objects”.
Djibouti, Manuel sur le droit international humanitaire et les droits de l’homme applicables au travail du policier, Ministère de l’Intérieur, Direction Générale de la Police, 2004, p. 11.
In 2010, in the History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Higher Education stated: “The [Additional] Protocols of 1977 have reaffirmed and spelled out in detail … [the principle] of distinction: ‘(…) [P]arties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish … between civilian objects and military objectives … (art. 48, Protocol I; see also art. 13, Protocol II).ˮ
Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, 2010, p. 188.
The ministry also stated: “When parties to the armed conflict plan or launch an attack, they have to distinguish … between civilian objects and military objectives. – According to article 48 of [1977] Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions.ˮ
Djibouti’s Manual on International Humanitarian Law (2004) states under the heading “Rules of Combat”: “Attack only military objectives.” Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, 2010, p. 203.
Djibouti, Manuel sur le droit international humanitaire et les droits de l’homme applicables au travail du policier, Ministère de l’Intérieur, Direction Générale de la Police, 2004, p. 7.
In 2010, in the History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Higher Education stated: “The [Additional] Protocols of 1977 have reaffirmed and spelled [out] in detail … [the principle] of distinction: ‘(…) [P]arties to the conflict shall direct their operations only against military objectives (art. 45, Protocol I; see also art. 13, Protocol II).ˮ
Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, 2010, p. 188.
In 2010, in the History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, under the heading “Basic rules of IHL” and in a section on “Distinction”, stated that “[i]t is prohibited to attack civilian objects”.
Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, 2010, p. 194.
In 2011, in the History and Geography Textbook for 9th Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, under the heading “[O]ffences related to violations of humanitarian law”, listed “intentionally directing attacks … against civilian objects that are not military objectives”.
Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, History and Geography Textbook for 9th Grade, 2011, p. 210.
In 2010, in the History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, under the heading “Basic rules of IHL” and in a section on “Distinction”, stated: “It is prohibited to attack … schools”.
Djibouti, Ministry of National Education and Higher Education, History and Geography Textbook for 8th Grade, 2010, p. 194.
For more than 150 years, the international community has been in agreement that warfare should be made less inhumane, through the rules and principles of international humanitarian law. Civilians should be protected in armed conflict. … However, these rules and principles are challenged and sometimes even ignored. … This is for instance the case in Syria (and Iraq) where … schools are being made the actual targets of warfare. This must stop.
Finland, Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden before the UN Security Council during a debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict made on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, 30 January 2015.
