Use of force and civilian protection: Peace operations in the Congo.

This article examines the use of force with respect to the protection of civilians in peace operations, using MONUC as a case study. By analysing the provisions on the use of force and the importance attached to the human rights situation in the authorizing resolutions of the Security Council, it suggests that the UN is inclined to broaden the concept of use of force when facing a deteriorating human rights situation. The discrepancy between the written ambitions and the political willingness to ensure their practical implementation, however, remains huge. In this vein, it is crucial that the Security Council not only considers but also adopts the recommendations by the Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. If so, the important synergy and complementarity between the roles of peacekeepers and human rights officers is more likely to bear fruit in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]