Business as Usual? CSO Strategies for the Protection of Civilians in Conflict at the United Nations

Civil society organizations (CSOs) actively advocate for the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict, yet their work is challenged by the UN Security Council's deadlock and the global erosion of PoC norms. This article examines the strategies CSOs use to influence UN policies on PoC, who they target, and how their approaches have evolved. Building on Keck and Sikkink's (1998) framework of Transnational Advocacy Networks, this research focuses on NGOs, think tanks, and humanitarian organizations and their use of symbolic, information, leverage, and accountability strategies. Methodologically, it combines data from 18 qualitative interviews with CSO and UN staff, conducted in 2024, with an analysis of CSO annual reports. Even in a context of political gridlock and impunity for violations of international humanitarian law, the findings indicate that CSO strategies have remained largely unchanged. The main strategy that CSOs use to engage with their targets across the UN system is the provision of information. This information is used in three main ways: providing facts, acting symbolically, and fostering networking opportunities.