The US state Department inaugurated the newly formed Office of Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights on Thursday.

The office, formed in line with changes announced last year by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is intended to enhance engagement with civil society and other non-state actors in other countries, in order to protect civilians.

In an interview with The Cable, Maria Otero, the head of the new office, said,

"As we are seeing the increasing importance of using non-military tools to address transnational threats, it is very important for the State Department to develop its own capacity to address civilian security,"

"This piece focuses on protecting individuals."

"It focuses not just engaging state to state, but taking on the bold foreign policy statement that we need to engage also with players and actors outside of the traditional ones we've engaged in."

The office, to be known as the 'J family', will encompass 5 functional bureaus and three sub-offices, including the existing Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), led by Assistant Secretary Michael Posner, as well as the newly formed Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO), to be led by nominated Assistant Secretary Rick Barton.

The 'J family' will also include the Office of Global Criminal Justice (CGJ) led by Ambassador-at-Large Stephen Rapp, formerly known as the Office of War Crimes Issues (WCI).