Civilians are the people who do not belong to any armed forces and are not combatants in a war. While they do not have the right to use force, civilians must follow the laws of war. While they are not considered combatants, they may also be non-combatant in certain cases. In these cases, they must carry open arms and adhere to the rules of war.
What is a civilian? It’s the face you see every day – the guy in front of you who drives the speed limit and has no weapons on him; the guy at the pizza place who stares at you like you’re trying to make a deal. Or that guy at the party who has no idea who you are. He might or may not be cock blocking.
Although there are differences between the two groups, civilians contribute valuable perspectives to national security policymaking. They often come from different backgrounds, such as management, law, and social science. Their backgrounds also give them the skills necessary for policymaking. For example, they know how to manage complex, multifaceted, and diverse interests. They also have a good grasp of social power.
Civilians are defined as “people who do not belong to any armed force” in international law. In Colombia, the military manual defines civilians as those who do not participate in hostilities. However, the definition is ambiguous. In addition to civilians, armed opposition groups are not classified as civilians.
Although a civilian is not a sworn member of the military, the civilians are often hired by law enforcement to perform certain functions. This practice frees up sworn personnel to focus on enforcement. It also allows law enforcement agencies to better utilize the talents of all employees. There are various documents outlining the rights and obligations of hiring civilian personnel. These are for reference only.