Agreement on the Civilian Protection Component of the International Monitoring Team (IMT)
AGREEMENT ON THE CIVILIAN PROTECTION COMPONENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING TEAM (IMT)
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) (hereafter referred to as the "Parties") hereby agreed as follows:
Article 1: Basic Undertakings
The Parties reconfirm their obligations under humanitarian law and human rights law to take constant care to protect the civilian population and civilian properties, against the dangers arising in armed conflict situations. In this context, the Parties commit themselves to:
a) Refrain from intentionally targeting or attacking non-combatants, prevent suffering of the civilian population and avoid acts that would cause collateral damage to civilians; b) Refrain from targeting or intentionally attacking civilian properties or facilities such as schools, hospitals, religious premises, health and food distribution centers, or relief operations, or objects or facilities indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and of a civilian nature;
c) Take all necessary actions to facilitate the provision of relief supplies to affected communities;
d) Take all precautions feasible to avoid incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, and danger to civilian objects;
e) Ensure that all protective and relief actions shall be undertaken in a purely nondiscriminatory basis covering all affected communities. To effect the above objectives, the Parties shall issue or re-issue orders to their respective military units or security forces (including paramilitaries, associated militias, and police units) to conduct their
operations consistent with their obligations and commitments described herein.
Article 2: Civilian Protection Component
The Parties hereby agree to expand the mandate of the IMT to include civilian protection. The IMT shall monitor, verify and report noncompliance by the Parties to their basic undertaking to protect civilians and civilian communities. Should the IMT cease to operate, the civilian protection component shall remain in place and continue to perform such functions. The Parties shall designate humanitarian organizations and nongovernmental organizations, both international and national, with proven track record for impartiality, neutrality and independence, to carry out the
civilian protection functions.
Article 3: Implementing Terms of Reference
This Agreement on civilian protection component shall form part of the Terms of Reference of the IMT to be deliberated and agreed by the Parties upon the formal resumption of the GRP-MILF peace talks.
Done at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this 2ih day of October 2009.
Signed:
Rafael E. Seguis
GRP Panel Chairman
Mohagher Iqal
MILF Panel Chairman
Signed in the presence of:
Datuk Othman Bin Abdul Razak
Malaysian Government Facilitator
