{"id":85449,"date":"2022-11-23T09:51:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T09:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/airwars.org\/?post_type=news_and_analysis&p=85449"},"modified":"2022-11-28T10:27:25","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T10:27:25","slug":"snp-launches-paper-on-the-protection-of-civilians-with-extensive-civil-society-input","status":"publish","type":"news_and_analysis","link":"https:\/\/airwars.org\/news\/snp-launches-paper-on-the-protection-of-civilians-with-extensive-civil-society-input\/","title":{"rendered":"SNP launches paper on the protection of civilians with extensive civil society input"},"content":{"rendered":"

The newly-launched paper<\/a> dictates how a future independent Scotland would conduct conflict and protect civilians before, during, and after Scottish operations.<\/p>\n

It includes a pledge to introduce oversight of special forces, a strong focus on the importance of tracking civilian harm and being transparent about the findings, as well as a commitment to limit the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.<\/p>\n

As SNP Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Alyn Smith MP said during the launch, \u201cmaking these points isn\u2019t just about an independent Scotland but it\u2019s about what we can all do to get the world to a better place than where we are now. The protection of civilians needs to be higher up the agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SNP currently controls Holyrood, the devolved Scottish parliament, and is the third largest party in the UK national parliament. It advocates for an independent Scotland and is campaigning for a fresh Scottish independence referendum in the coming years.<\/p>\n

A small, but growing number of countries have declared civilian harm mitigation policies. In response to civil society and media pressure, the United States recently rewrote its entire policy to try and reduce the number of civilians it kills. The Netherlands is undergoing a similar process through its Roadmap Process.<\/p>\n

Yet the UK has not kept up with allies and lacks a detailed, transparent policy on how it will mitigate harm, and respond when it does occur. With this paper, the SNP distances itself from this approach. As well as dictating how a future independent Scotland would engage in conflict, the policy also outlines the key beliefs of the SNP in regard to how the UK should fight wars. These include a firm commitment to monitoring the civilian impact of conflicts, as well as to transparency about where and when strikes are committed.<\/p>\n

It also commits the party<\/a> to a UN-backed declaration to limit the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, which disproportionately kill civilians who make up more than 90% of those killed when such weapons are used. Last week, delegates from over 80 countries, including the US and the UK, signed an agreement committing to limit their use in Dublin.<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udf0eToday @ChrisLawSNP<\/a>, @AlynSmith<\/a> & I have published a new policy paper on the protection of civilians in conflict. UN Security Council Resolution 1265 was adopted more than 20 years ago, but the failure to protect civilians in conflict is stark. The world needs a fresh approach. pic.twitter.com\/HNJDxClzs8<\/a><\/p>\n

— Stewart McDonald (@StewartMcDonald) November 22, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n