A wide array of norms, laws, policies and mechanisms focused on improving the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict have emerged since the early 1990s. These range from international conventions highlighting PoC and the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to PoC-mandated UN peacekeeping missions and the elaboration of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). However, as crises from Syria to the Central African Republic illustrate, these developments have not always translated into improved protection for civilians on the ground. This Policy Brief explores the rapid development of PoC laws and policies and critically examines attempts to translate them into concrete improvements for civilians in conflict situations.