Advocacy and Outreach Report (December 2014)
Note: To download the full PDF report, please click here.
(Published Jan. 9, 2015)
A Note from Mel…
Nonviolent Peaceforce has continued to advance the idea and practice of unarmed civilian protection, and we share with you some of the highlights in recent months. I urge you to share this news with others, and if you want more detail, please contact me at [email protected].
Syria
The European Union has notified NP of a grant to develop a civilian protection project in Syria. We have been working on the project for over two years. We will be partnering with the Syrian organization Madani (http://www.madanisyria.com) and contracting with Cure Violence (http://www.cureviolence.org) to train and support locally tailored civilian protection and violence interruption programmes in 45 locations throughout the country.
We will offer intensive training and training of trainers to Syrian civil society organizations and leaders across the entire political spectrum. This will be followed by hands-‐on support and consultation with groups as they implement their plans in their local areas. Periodically we will bring people together to reflect on their experience, identify lessons learned, while strengthening relationships among each other. We believe that a strong and active civil society network working across political, religious and ethnic boundaries provides a foundation for a future pluralistic and peaceful Syria. When appropriate and safe, we will consider sending in international unarmed civilian protectors.
The project will begin in April 2015 and last for three years.
South Sudan
The Australian Ambassador to the United Nations, HE Gary Quinlan, has notified Nonviolent Peaceforce that his mission’s International Development Fund has awarded USD 63,000 to NP to enhance the capacity of humanitarian workers protecting civilians under threat in South Sudan. (http://www.geneva.mission.gov.au/gene/idf.html)
With the return of the dry season, the danger of a full-scale war looms. By providing training to nongovernmental organization workers, NP is able to spread protective coverage for civilians and at the same time mainstream protection methodologies. Over the next three months, NP will train 150 people in five areas in South Sudan. After a summary meeting in Juba to capture lessons learned, NP will work with the Australian mission to disseminate results at the UN.