Civilian Operations Commander Operational Guidelines on Human Rights Mainstreaming and Human Rights Due Diligence

This set of guidelines, adopted in October 2021, are set within two policy frameworks. On the one hand, the 2018 Civilian Compact mentioned in commitment 16 that the Council had identified operational guidelines on human rights mainstreaming as a key action for strengthening civilian CSDP. Following the commitment, these were prepared jointly by CPCC and the human rights advisers in missions. On the other hand, the EU’s commitment to human rights mainstreaming was reiterated in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2027), and these guidelines provide practical advice to enable civilian CSDP missions to contribute to it.  

The guidelines cover all phases of a mission cycle, i.e. analysis, planning, conduct of operations and mandate implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, as well as review and provide directions for both civilian CSDP senior management and all staff members. The methodology used for mainstreaming human rights is the human-rights based approach (HRBA). It highlights the need to reach out to civil society to ensure buy-in but also to seek input regarding the human rights dimension of a mission’s work. Additionally, the guidelines include a dedicated section on human rights due diligence (HRDD). Through HRDD, reasonable care should be exercised before providing support to non-EU security forces, which in turn makes it possible to safeguard EU’s image as a legitimate and credible actor. Reasonable care requires “identifying, assessing, mitigating and managing the human rights-related impacts of such support.” 

The guidelines further stipulate that the HRBA and gender mainstreaming are complementary and mutually reinforcing strategies which need to be considered simultaneously. An HRBA should integrate and safeguard women’s human rights, including the prohibition of discrimination based on sex or gender.  

Reference: European External Action Service (EEAS) (2021). Civilian Operations Commander Operational Guidelines on Human Rights Mainstreaming and Human Rights Due Diligence.