Tsiviilsed

Tsiviilsed is a term used in Estonian to refer to people who are not members of the armed forces or other organized armed groups. In everyday language it often stands in contrast to military personnel, police in certain contexts, or fighters. As a plural form, tsiviilsed can function as a shorthand for tsiviilsed isikud, meaning civilian persons.

In international humanitarian law, civilians are defined as all persons who are not taking direct part in hostilities and who are not members of armed forces or organized armed groups. Civilians enjoy protection from violence, coercion, and indiscriminate attacks. The protection is not absolute: a person loses civilian protection only while directly participating in hostilities, and even then the protection resumes once participation ends. Attacks must distinguish between civilians and combatants, and there are explicit rules against targeting civilian objects and failing to take precautions to spare civilians from harm.

Historically and in contemporary usage, tsiviilsed appears in legal texts, government documents, media reporting, and academic discussions to emphasize the non-combatant status of the general population during conflicts, disasters, or security operations. The term is used across various contexts, including wartime casualty reporting, humanitarian aid, and refugee discussions, to describe people whose safety and rights are central to protection efforts.

Etymology of the term reflects common European linguistic roots related to civility and civilian life; in Estonian, tsiviilsed aligns with the broader set of terms expressing non-military, civilian status. See also international humanitarian law, Geneva Conventions, and civilian protection.