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May 2024
Summary of POC week event | Civilian-centred approaches to POC
As part of the annual 2024 United Nations Protection of Civilians week, which takes place around the annual UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians, a side event on ‘Civilian-Centred Approaches to POC: what works, why and advancing acceptance within the international system’ was held at the Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event was co-organised by Nonviolent Peaceforce, CIVIC, Creating Safer Space, Global Protection Cluster, HPG/ODI, Oxfam, NORCAP, PAX, the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN and the Permanent Missions of El Salvador, the Netherlands, Philippines and South Sudan.
June 2024
Food Security and Unarmed Civilian Protection
Violent conflict, food insecurity, and the protection of civilians are inherently interconnected, and one cannot be effectively addressed independently of another. To do so increases risks to affected populations and reduces the value of all programmatic investments. Investment in food aid is devoid of value if that aid cannot get to populations at risk. We need adaptable tools – like Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) – that can help address the ways that different types of insecurity – physical, material, or otherwise – are interconnected.
June 2024
Beyond Election Day: Unarmed Civilian Protection and Electoral Cycles
Engaged and proactive voting communities are well positioned to ensure their own safety and security throughout election cycles. These groups can act quickly and serve as interrupters who prevent violence, mitigate rumors, de-escalate tensions, and advocate for processes that prioritize the safety of civilians. Strengthening responses to electoral violence through the tools of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) – a nonviolent and civilian-led methodology for the protection of civilians before, during, and after violent conflict – increases community capacities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to potential violence.
May 2024
Peace, Protection, And The Polls: Lessons Learned From The 2023 Iraqi Provincial Elections
The December 18, 2023, Iraqi provincial elections marked a critical juncture in the nation's democratic journey. This was the first provincial election in over a decade, presenting a vital opportunity to restore and fortify democratic principles and to understand the desires of Iraqi voters. In addition, the 2023 elections are a significant event in how the political landscape will be shaped for the next four years, with those elected empowered with oversight over local governance and the power to select provincial governors, and providing an important precursor to the parliamentary elections slated for 2025. Impacts on peace efforts, the protection of civilians, and the political future of Iraq are likely to be widespread – at the provincial, national, and regional levels.
March 18, 2024
Perilous Journeys: Protection risks and responses to Ukrainian citizens returning from the Russia-occupied areas
The movement from Russian-occupied Ukraine to Ukrainian-controlled territory entails numerous protection risks as people travel through regions heavily affected by conflict and into Russia, subjected to at least two security screenings, all before crossing into Sumy region of Ukraine via the Kolotilovka (RU)-Pokrovka (UA) border checkpoint. The Government of Ukraine, national and international humanitarian organisations, civil society groups, and international donors can take several steps to better respond to protection risks and challenges faced by Ukrainians returning from occupied area.
March 2024
Preliminary Assessment Findings, South Kivu
As the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeeping mission draws down at the request of the host state government, many questions and concerns are being raised about ongoing civilian protection needs and resources in the context of the transition. Communities, humanitarians, duty bearers, and other actors are concerned about the emerging and persistent threats that civilians face in this context, and the ways that the transition is likely to exacerbate civilian protection needs and risks.
January 2024
Sustaining Support: Renk, South Sudan
As the conflict in Sudan spreads southwards, the devastating impact on civilians continues to escalate and force people to seek sanctuary in South Sudan. This is resulting in an immense strain on resources, especially in Renk county, which is the first point of arrival for the majority of those displaced. Without any political solution to the conflict in sight, decision makers need to identify and prioritise needs in order to continue supporting the hundreds of thousands of people desperately in need of basic services.
December 6, 2023
Crisis Upon Crisis Conflict & Climate Induced Challenges in Rotriak
In Rotriak, South Sudan, the extreme consequences of the global climate crisis and Sudan conflict are coalescing for all to see. The displacement crisis from Sudan is just one of many challenges afflicting the area and for the communities inhabiting Rotriak, life is a daily struggle to survive. This report identifies four critical dynamics in Rotriak: its sensitive location, insecurity, key protection concerns and community relationships.
September/October 2023
Stuck in Transit: Malakal and Paloch, Upper Nile State, South Sudan
The enduring conflict in Sudan has precipitated a massive influx of individuals into South Sudan, with a staggering 82% entering through Upper Nile. Humanitarian agencies and government entities have primarily concentrated on aiding the onward movement of displaced individuals from border areas to their final destinations, while those stuck in transit at points like Malakal and Paloch have received less attention. This report issues three vital recommendations, calling for the integration of development and resilience-building efforts with emergency responses, balanced service distribution across communities, and fostering open communication and engagement with affected communities to address these complex humanitarian challenges effectively
August 31, 2023
Protection needs and responses in de-occupied and frontline areas in Donetska Oblast, Ukraine
NP conducted a visit to Donestka oblast between 10 to 19 August 2023 to carry out a rapid assessment of civilian protection needs and concerns in de-occupied and frontline areas under the control of the Government of Ukraine (GCA). The NP team engaged with local and regional civil-military authorities in Kramatorsk city and surrounding areas, national NGOs, a charitable foundation, and local and international volunteers who are servicing war-affected populations across the oblast. The NP team also visited de-occupied and frontline Sviatohirska and Lymanska hromadas, engaging with local authorities and community members, including returnees. This report does not include information on protection concerns and the humanitarian situation in the areas of Donestka oblast that are currently occupied by Russian forces and where access remains restricted.