PART V PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE AND DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS, 18 VULNERABLE GROUPS DURING ARMED CONFLICT AND OTHER VIOLENCE

The reference to population groups or groups of persons as ‘vulnerable’ does not mean that they are necessarily weak or innocent. On the contrary, many such persons actively take part in conflict and violence and can be capable of considerable influence. Rather, the existence of specific rules for such groups, which are all different in their own ways, is that practice has shown that abuse against them occurs more regularly. The rules are therefore designed to try to reduce the likelihood of such abuse, and are based on notions of basic justice, equality, and...