A civilian is a person not affiliated with the military or police. They are citizens of a particular city, state or nation with full privileges. The term civilian is also used to describe people not involved in a particular conflict, war or battle. It can be difficult to transition from military life to civilian life. This can include readjusting to relationships and the financial differences between the two lifestyles. There are many resources available to help you navigate the challenges of civilian life.
Civilians are a crucial group in every armed conflict and the key to stability, but they are often not sufficiently protected. States should adopt and implement policies aimed at minimising civilian casualties, as well as strengthening civilian capacities to respond to and report incidents of harm. Civilian populations should be involved in peacebuilding processes and have access to information about the operations and impact of military actions.
In international humanitarian law, a civilian is a person who is not a member of any armed forces and does not take part directly in hostilities, except during a period of direct participation. However, this concept is ill-defined in practice and it has led to the development of grey cases, for which customary international law has not yet established clear principles.
As a result, it is important to clarify the meaning of civilian and its role in armed conflict and political violence. This should be done through an interdisciplinary approach that takes into account the different dimensions and implications of civilians in a conflict and the ways in which they interact with one another.
Several challenges arise from the definition of civilians and their role in armed conflicts, including the difficulty of distinguishing between civilians and non-combatants, as well as the distinction between those who have taken direct part in hostilities and those who do not. In addition, the scope of the term is constantly evolving and may be affected by a range of factors, such as changing perceptions of who constitutes a civilian and the increasing involvement of armed non-state actors in armed conflicts.
Civilian is a common word, but its usage differs across different fields and cultures. In the United States, for example, it is most commonly used to refer to those not in the military. It is less frequently used to describe government employees, such as teachers and police officers. In other nations, civilian is more commonly used to describe the general population or to refer to citizens. Civilian can also refer to individuals who are not involved in a specific conflict, such as protestors or volunteers for aid organisations. Despite these differences, the term is still widely recognised and has many synonyms in other languages. The word ‘civil’ is derived from the Latin adjective civium, meaning “city”, as it applies to the members of a city or state who do not belong to the army or police. Civilians are the majority of a country’s population, but they can be at risk from war and other conflict.