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”.
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
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.”
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
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”.
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”.
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”.
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.