The Duty of Care of International Organizations Towards Their Civilian Personnel

Legal Obligations and Implementation Challenges

This book constitutes the first comprehensive publication on the duty of care of international

organizations towards their civilian personnel sent on missions and assignments outside

of their normal place of activity. While the work of the civilian personnel of international

organizations often carries an inherent risk, the regulations, policies and practices of the

employer can help to address and mitigate that risk.

In this book, the specific content and scope of the duty of care under international law is clarified

by conducting an unprecedented investigation into relevant jurisprudence and legal sources.

Included is a critical assessment of the policies of selected international organizations while a

set of guiding principles on the duty of care of international organizations is also presented.

This publication fills a gap in the existing academic literature on the topic and is aimed

particularly at academics and practitioners interested in the legal implications of the deployment

of civilian personnel abroad by international organizations. This includes scholars

and university-level students specializing in international law, international human rights

law, the law of international organizations, labour law, EU law, international administrative

law and the UN system, and practitioners, such as lawyers and consultants, representing or

advising international organizations or their personnel on the legal aspects of deployment.

The book is also aimed at the senior management of international organizations and at their

officers in charge of recruitment, human resources, training and security, in that it clarifies

their legal obligations and provides concrete examples of the policies various international

organizations have in place for the protection of civilian personnel. Current and prospective

civilian personnel of international organizations should also find the book useful for

clarifying their rights and duties.

Andrea de Guttry is Full Professor at the Dirpolis Institute of the Sant’Anna School of

Advanced Studies in Pisa, Micaela Frulli is Associate Professor at the Dipartimento di Scienze

Giuridiche (DSG), University of Florence, Edoardo Greppi is Full Professor at the Dipartimento

di Giurisprudenza, University of Turin, and Chiara Macchi is Research Fellow at the

Dirpolis Institute of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.