Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response: The Imperative of an All-Domain Approach

Authors

Alexus G. Grynkewich, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)
Thomas R. Burks, Air Force Special Operations Command
Alex B. Coberly, Office of the Special Trial Counsel
Samantha A. McClure, Fifteenth Air Force

Abstract

Τhe Department of Defense (DOD) seeks to reduce civilian harm caused by military operations and to improve its ability to respond when civilian harm occurs. To this end, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved and released the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) on August 25, 2022. CHMR-AP is a watershed initiative in which DOD commits to improving its ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm. No amount of prevention or mitigation will eliminate civilian harm in armed conflict, nor does international law demand that civilian harm be eliminated. Still, providing civilians more protection than international law requires is a policy initiative worth pursuing.

Recommended Citation

Alexus G. Grynkewich, Thomas R. Burks, Alex B. Coberly & Samantha A. McClure, "Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response: The Imperative of an All-Domain Approach," Joint Force Quarterly 114 (3rd Quarter 2024), 35-39, https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol114/iss2/6.