A civilian is an individual who is not a member of any military, police force or other armed force. This term is generally defined by international humanitarian law, though a number of different definitions are in use. Civilians may be individuals who have voluntarily chosen to be part of a conflict, or they could be individuals who are displaced by a conflict and may not have chosen to participate in it either professionally or officially. In a more broad sense, civilians can also refer to individuals who have not participated in military service and who are therefore protected from attack by the law of war.
The question of what makes someone a civilian is not an easy one. A person’s status as a civilian depends on a variety of factors, including the laws of the country where they live and the specifics of their role in life. In the modern context of a globalized world, this includes things like the type and level of education a person has had and the skills they have acquired. In the case of military personnel, it might also include a number of factors like their rank and their years of active duty.
Civilians may be employed by government agencies, businesses or private organizations and they can earn an hourly wage or a salary. They can be involved in a number of different professions, from politics and journalism to teaching and health care. In some cases, people have become civilians due to a change in their nationality or the way their family’s citizenship is structured. The term can also be used in a political context, with politicians and journalists who have chosen to distance themselves from the military or other armed forces being considered civilians.
Those who choose to leave the military for civilian life face many challenges, and it is important that they take the time to build relationships with new friends and find a community that they feel comfortable in. They should also make sure that they understand what benefits they are entitled to, such as healthcare, housing allowance and pensions. This is because civilian life can often be more unstable than a career in the military, as there are no guarantees of employment or benefits for any length of time.
The world is facing growing challenges to the protection of civilians from the impacts of war and other types of armed conflict. These include the need to reduce displacement and provide access to essential services, as well as promote accountability through support for truth, justice and reconciliation commissions or hybrid courts. It is also important to consider the ways that civilians can be protected, both from the impacts of conflict and from its causes, and to develop strategies that are responsive to local needs and conditions. This will require a mix of civilian and military expertise, which is why the defense and diplomatic communities need to work together more closely.