Since the United Nations is not a sovereign state, it cannot ascribe to the convention because many of the treaties' obligations can only be fulfilled by a state, the official said. The bulletin is an outgrowth of a series of texts from those ICRC meetings, work of the UN legal counselors, and discussions with UN member states in peacekeeping committees. The bulletin covers the protection of civilians, the means and methods of combat, treatment of the sick and wounded, detainees, and relief personnel. The bulletin does not break legal ground but is a restatement of many of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, the official said. Military operations shall be directed only against combatants and military objectives.
Women are to be protected, especially against rape or forced prostitution.
Children are also to be the object of special respect and protected from any form of indecent attack. UN forces are prohibited from attacking cultural, historic, or archaeological sites, or places of worship that are the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples, the bulletin says. However there is nothing to compel member states to try accused peacekeepers in their national courts. While some member states have expressed some difficulties with the bulletin, no state has informed the UN that it would not make its military available for UN operations after August 12, the UN official said.