Nonviolent Peaceforce and Creating Safer Space launch UCP Academy: A Global Hub for Learning in Unarmed Civilian Protection
9 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) has officially launched UCP Academy, an online learning platform designed to equip individuals and organisations with the skills to practise Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP)—a proven, practical approach to protecting civilians, preventing violence, and fostering peace.
Developed in collaboration with the Creating Safer Space network at Aberystwyth University, and supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the UCP Academy will offer practical training and resources.
“In a world facing increasing conflict and polarisation, UCP Academy is a timely and essential resource,” said Robert Rivers, NP’s Global UCP Training Manager. “By making UCP training more accessible, we are expanding the capacity of individuals and communities to take an active role in civilian protection and nonviolent conflict resolution.”
The Academy will feature:
- Opportunities for collaboration and mentorship across regions and sectors.
- Resources to support community-led initiatives for the protection of civilians.
- Foundational and advanced UCP courses with field-tested strategies.
Developed by Creating Safer Space, the Academy also hosts the UCP Knowledge Database, the biggest public repository on Unarmed Civilian Protection, community self-protection and related topics. It includes academic research publications, working papers, NGO documents, films, music, and more.
This initiative also builds on the work of a growing global community of practice dedicated to advancing nonviolent strategies for the protection of civilians.
“By linking rigorous academic research with on-the-ground expertise, we are strengthening the knowledge base for UCP and unarmed community self-protection, and expanding it worldwide,” said Professor Berit Bliesemann de Guevara, Principal Investigator at Aberystwyth University. “The Creating Safer Space project has demonstrated that practical, nonviolent approaches to protection have significant impacts in conflict-affected areas. We are excited to collaborate with NP on UCP Academy to expand access to these essential skills and experiences.”
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Mahmoud Shabeeb, Global Media Advisor
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About Nonviolent Peaceforce
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is an international NGO that works to protect civilians and promote peace through the practice of Unarmed Civilian Protection. We work alongside communities to interrupt and prevent violence in areas most impacted by conflict. Our evidence-informed, civilian-led approaches have protected tens of thousands of people around the world since our launch in 2002—impacting millions more and helping communities live free from fear and become equipped to protect themselves and create sustainable peace.
About Creating Safer Space at Aberystwyth University
Creating Safer Space at Aberystwyth University is an international research network linking 70 research and civil society organisations in eleven low- and middle-income countries, dedicated to advancing the practice and study of unarmed civilian protection and community self-protection. By bridging academic research with field-based practice, it contributes to the growing global movement for nonviolent approaches to civilian protection and conflict transformation.