Creating Safer Space: Strengthening Civilian Protection Amidst Violent Conflict
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: International Politics
Abstract
"Creating Safer Space" is a four-year international, interdisciplinary research network, which supports local civilian processes that build sustainable structures of protection from physical harm for and with communities affected by violent conflict. The Network brings together conflict-affected communities, protection practitioners, academics, policymakers and artists to jointly work on the vision of enhancing unarmed protection practices, which create safer space for communities and individuals amidst violent conflict, raise their levels of resilience and help prevent displacement.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are now a record high of 68.5 million people forcibly displaced by violent conflict (UNHCR 2019), and the majority of deaths in conflicts are among civilians. This makes the protection of civilians from physical harm in contexts of war a pressing issue of our time. While the international community has acknowledged the need for protection, the physical safety of civilians is still seen almost exclusively as a task of armed outside actors like UN blue helmets.
The originality of this Network is its focus on protection provided by unarmed actors and deployed at the local level of communities, be it by "outside" specialists or "insider/local" protection actors. Unarmed civilian protection (UCP) organisations accompany human rights defenders and deter armed actors from carrying out attacks against them through their presence and proactive engagement strategies. They use networks of relationships built with armed and unarmed parties to a conflict to negotiate safe passage of internally displaced persons to a safe camp or to bring forcefully recruited youth back to their families. They also monitor ceasefires & agreements. Moreover, some violence-affected communities self-protect by setting up peace communities and weapons-free zones, creating safer space for civilian life amidst violent conflict.
There are over 40 international NGOs and a growing number of national and local organisations currently undertaking protection work in 24 countries in conflict, in addition to local self-protection initiatives. They illustrate that the protection of civilians by civilians without the use or threat of force can work to create physical safety, and may even do more: by providing a role model, and by not fuelling further violence, UCP can help break cycles of violence and thus contribute to longer-term peacebuilding. Initial research has suggested that UCP may often be more effective than armed protection and indeed, latest UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions mention the potential of UCP, indicating some change in thinking.
"Creating Safer Space" aims to enhance and broaden the practice of UCP by engaging a wide range of stakeholders in networking, capacity-building, research and impact activities around three broad themes:
A. Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict: Which different kinds of vulnerabilities interact in what ways in situations that require protection, and which different protection strategies do they require?
B. Building local protection infrastructures: How can outside protection strategies and self-protection mechanisms in communities work together for best protection results and without undermining each other?
C. Developing civilian protection capabilities: How can unarmed local protection be scaled up in size/scope and include new actors and collaborations with a view to protect more people from violence and displacement and develop stronger protection capacity?
To address these questions, our Network delivers activities for academic and non-academic partners from the Global North and South across three strands of work: networking and capacity enhancement; collaborative and innovative research; and knowledge sharing and advocacy. Taken together, these activities aim to increase the number of people benefiting from civilian protection worldwide.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are now a record high of 68.5 million people forcibly displaced by violent conflict (UNHCR 2019), and the majority of deaths in conflicts are among civilians. This makes the protection of civilians from physical harm in contexts of war a pressing issue of our time. While the international community has acknowledged the need for protection, the physical safety of civilians is still seen almost exclusively as a task of armed outside actors like UN blue helmets.
The originality of this Network is its focus on protection provided by unarmed actors and deployed at the local level of communities, be it by "outside" specialists or "insider/local" protection actors. Unarmed civilian protection (UCP) organisations accompany human rights defenders and deter armed actors from carrying out attacks against them through their presence and proactive engagement strategies. They use networks of relationships built with armed and unarmed parties to a conflict to negotiate safe passage of internally displaced persons to a safe camp or to bring forcefully recruited youth back to their families. They also monitor ceasefires & agreements. Moreover, some violence-affected communities self-protect by setting up peace communities and weapons-free zones, creating safer space for civilian life amidst violent conflict.
There are over 40 international NGOs and a growing number of national and local organisations currently undertaking protection work in 24 countries in conflict, in addition to local self-protection initiatives. They illustrate that the protection of civilians by civilians without the use or threat of force can work to create physical safety, and may even do more: by providing a role model, and by not fuelling further violence, UCP can help break cycles of violence and thus contribute to longer-term peacebuilding. Initial research has suggested that UCP may often be more effective than armed protection and indeed, latest UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions mention the potential of UCP, indicating some change in thinking.
"Creating Safer Space" aims to enhance and broaden the practice of UCP by engaging a wide range of stakeholders in networking, capacity-building, research and impact activities around three broad themes:
A. Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict: Which different kinds of vulnerabilities interact in what ways in situations that require protection, and which different protection strategies do they require?
B. Building local protection infrastructures: How can outside protection strategies and self-protection mechanisms in communities work together for best protection results and without undermining each other?
C. Developing civilian protection capabilities: How can unarmed local protection be scaled up in size/scope and include new actors and collaborations with a view to protect more people from violence and displacement and develop stronger protection capacity?
To address these questions, our Network delivers activities for academic and non-academic partners from the Global North and South across three strands of work: networking and capacity enhancement; collaborative and innovative research; and knowledge sharing and advocacy. Taken together, these activities aim to increase the number of people benefiting from civilian protection worldwide.
Planned Impact
The "Creating Safer Space" impact agenda is informed by its underlying Theory of Change: Our vision is to contribute to the creation of safer space for an increased number of conflict-affected individuals worldwide. To this end, the Network functions as an inclusive platform to provide evidence for and share good practice in civilian protection, strengthen local protection infrastructures based on a deep understanding of dynamics of vulnerability, and broaden the community of practice using local civilian protection strategies. Taken together, this will contribute to creating safer space for communities to transform their own conflicts, break cycles of violence and displacement and create conditions for development.
Impact will arise directly from activities in Network Strands 1 (networking and capacity development) and 2 (commissioned research) and from targeted dissemination and impact activities under Strand 3. Five main beneficiary groups and respective pathways to impact have been identified:
1) Conflict- and displacement-affected communities:
The Network will enable better protection of (more) communities in conflict. Participatory research activities will ensure needs-based protection provision that builds new or supports existing local protection capacity. "Sowing Seeds" grants will expand civilian protection to communities thus far not or insufficiently protected. The dissemination of good UCP practice will be supported through reports, briefings & arts and media outputs (e.g., illustrations, film screenings, exhibitions, or performances).
2) The global UCP community of practice:
The Network activities will impact the global UCP community of practice in the form of strengthened capacity that ultimately benefits conflict-affected communities. Through networking, sharing experiences, increased research capacity, strengthened links to national and international researchers, and tailored monitoring & evaluation methods, the community of practice will be better able to evaluate what works and how, to enhance their existing work, to expand it to new communities, and to provide more convincing evidence of the effectiveness and sustainability of local civilian protection to funders. A UCP knowledge database, skills and methods online courses, a UCP E&M manual and any other outputs will be available online beyond the Network's lifetime and create a legacy for future UCP work.
3) Policymaker/donor communities:
To promote greater UCP awareness, support and use, the Network will organise events with policymakers/donors to disseminate project and synthesised findings. Events will take place nationally in the four core countries, regionally in Addis Ababa (African Union), Jakarta (ASEAN) and Chiapas (Network of Protection Organisations), and internationally in London (UK stakeholders), Geneva (humanitarian/human rights agencies) and New York (United Nations).
4) Societies in the countries of the Network's core activities:
The Network will encourage and fund creative forms of research and outcome dissemination that lend themselves to raising societal awareness of the need for and merits of civilian protection of conflict-affected communities (e.g., collaborations with artists and media specialists). The aimed impact is a positive change in attitudes of the public engaged through these activities towards non-forceful protection measures that help break cycles of violence.
5) The general global public:
The Network will create an interactive and engaging website to inform about its research and findings, provide practical information about UCP approaches, and engage with individuals or organisations interested in joining the Network as Associated Partners. The aim is to expand knowledge of UCP strategies to more people and organisations worldwide, and to highlight their potential uses, not least also in countries of the Global North (e.g., protection of refugees and migrants, prevention of urban/gang violence).
Impact will arise directly from activities in Network Strands 1 (networking and capacity development) and 2 (commissioned research) and from targeted dissemination and impact activities under Strand 3. Five main beneficiary groups and respective pathways to impact have been identified:
1) Conflict- and displacement-affected communities:
The Network will enable better protection of (more) communities in conflict. Participatory research activities will ensure needs-based protection provision that builds new or supports existing local protection capacity. "Sowing Seeds" grants will expand civilian protection to communities thus far not or insufficiently protected. The dissemination of good UCP practice will be supported through reports, briefings & arts and media outputs (e.g., illustrations, film screenings, exhibitions, or performances).
2) The global UCP community of practice:
The Network activities will impact the global UCP community of practice in the form of strengthened capacity that ultimately benefits conflict-affected communities. Through networking, sharing experiences, increased research capacity, strengthened links to national and international researchers, and tailored monitoring & evaluation methods, the community of practice will be better able to evaluate what works and how, to enhance their existing work, to expand it to new communities, and to provide more convincing evidence of the effectiveness and sustainability of local civilian protection to funders. A UCP knowledge database, skills and methods online courses, a UCP E&M manual and any other outputs will be available online beyond the Network's lifetime and create a legacy for future UCP work.
3) Policymaker/donor communities:
To promote greater UCP awareness, support and use, the Network will organise events with policymakers/donors to disseminate project and synthesised findings. Events will take place nationally in the four core countries, regionally in Addis Ababa (African Union), Jakarta (ASEAN) and Chiapas (Network of Protection Organisations), and internationally in London (UK stakeholders), Geneva (humanitarian/human rights agencies) and New York (United Nations).
4) Societies in the countries of the Network's core activities:
The Network will encourage and fund creative forms of research and outcome dissemination that lend themselves to raising societal awareness of the need for and merits of civilian protection of conflict-affected communities (e.g., collaborations with artists and media specialists). The aimed impact is a positive change in attitudes of the public engaged through these activities towards non-forceful protection measures that help break cycles of violence.
5) The general global public:
The Network will create an interactive and engaging website to inform about its research and findings, provide practical information about UCP approaches, and engage with individuals or organisations interested in joining the Network as Associated Partners. The aim is to expand knowledge of UCP strategies to more people and organisations worldwide, and to highlight their potential uses, not least also in countries of the Global North (e.g., protection of refugees and migrants, prevention of urban/gang violence).
Organisations
- Aberystwyth University (Lead Research Organisation)
- COVENTRY UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of the Andes (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH (Collaboration)
- Prince of Songkla University Thailand (Collaboration)
- Chulalongkorn University (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- HAKI Africa (Collaboration)
- University of Antioquia (Collaboration)
- BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO (Collaboration)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) (Collaboration)
- African Woman and Child Feature Service (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF WINCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Autonomous University of Occident (Collaboration)
- University of Valle (Collaboration)
- Nonviolent Peaceforce (Collaboration)
- Del Rosario University (Collaboration)
- Pontifical Bolivarian University (Collaboration)
- African Leadership Institute (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF YORK (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Community Empowerment for Progress Org (Project Partner)
- Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (Project Partner)
- Harlequin and the Jugglers (Project Partner)
- African Women and Child Feature Services (Project Partner)
- Peace Tree Network (Project Partner)
- Ctr for Dev & Ethnic Studies (CDES) (Project Partner)
- Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines (Project Partner)
- Peasant Association of Antioquia (ACA) (Project Partner)
Publications
AHRC-GCRF Network Plus "Creating Safer Space"
(2023)
Creating Safer Space: Insights into civilian capacities for nonviolent (self-) protection in conflict-affected areas
Arfiansyah
(2024)
A new approach to violent conflict in Papua
Arias López BE
(2023)
Art That Protects
in Humanitarian Exchange
Art Allies / Alianzarte / Hulafaa Alfun
(2023)
Diálogos sobre artivismo y cuidado
Arteaga-Garzón K
(2024)
Civiles protejiendo civiles
Arteaga-Garzón K
(2024)
Civilians Protecting Civilians
Bliesemann De Guevara B
(2020)
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Peace and Conflict Studies
| Title | Art Allies-Alianzarte - Hulafaa Alfun: Diálogos sobre artivismo y cuidado |
| Description | This exhibition is a collective work between artists and researchers. On the three floors of the Japan Centre at the University of the Andes, photographs, embroidery, music, cartoons and art installations create a dynamic conversation between Colombia and South Sudan. Artworks explore issues of security and their own understandings of protection in places affected by protracted violence. The exhibition is an output of the Network Plus Creating Safer Space project "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia". |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Impacts forthcoming. |
| URL | https://cienciassociales.uniandes.edu.co/eventos/exposicion-art-allies-alianzarte-hulafaa-alfun-dial... |
| Title | Creating Safer Space |
| Description | What happens when civilians choose unarmed action to protect themselves from violence? How empowering is nonviolence in shaping peoples' presents and futures? The exhibition CREATING SAFER SPACE explores the unexpected power of nonviolence in the protection of civilians living in the midst of violence. It shows how protection is being thought of and practised by ordinary people without the use of weapons, and what transformative ways of imagining, doing, and living it enables, but also what its limits are. With most deaths in wars sustained among civilians and a record high of over 110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the protection of civilians from the harms of war, violence and persecution is a pressing issue of our time. But answers are still mostly imagined as either armed protection from violence or as humanitarian assistance to protect people legally and socioeconomically. By contrast, the people featured in this exhibition show us that and how nonviolent, civilian alternatives of protection from physical violence work. CREATING SAFER SPACE draws on unarmed civilian protection experiences from Cameroon, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, South Sudan, and Thailand, where civilians are harnessing the power of nonviolence to create safer spaces and work towards alternative presents and futures. The objects, images, and voices originate from a selection of 26 research projects conducted in collaboration between academics, self-protecting communities and nonviolent civilian accompaniers, that explored how nonviolent civilian protection works. The experiences they have captured invite us to reflect on our own ideas and biases of who can protect and how. CREATING SAFER SPACE challenges its visitors to undo commonly held beliefs about vulnerability, agency, and choices in war. It invites us to imagine possibilities for the protection of civilians differently. And it inspires us to take action and contribute to this change. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Exhibition and impact ongoing. |
| Title | La Fiesta |
| Description | La Fiesta is a piece inspired by the findings of the research project "Art that protects, phase 1: Contributions of artistic-cultural initiatives to the self-protection strategies of young people and women in the context of urban conflict in Medellín, 2022", implemented by the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Antioquia and the Cultural Corporation for Development Arlequín y Los Juglares (Harlequin and the Jugglers), with the support provided by the Network Plus Creating Safer Space. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Witnessed by 600 spectators at the renowned Pablo Tobón Uribe Theatre of Medellín on 17 May 2023, this magical piece transported the audience into a realm of wonder. Among them were members of artistic-cultural organizations from vulnerable urban areas, underscoring the transformative power of art in communities affected by urban violence. |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/the-network-was-invited-to-la-fiesta/ |
| Title | Project "'Ritualising' Protection in Conflict": Ritualising Protection Project website |
| Description | The Ritualising Protection Project website includes details about the project concept, methodology, ethics, team, partners, and activities. It also includes a blog and is connected to a number of social media channels (specifically, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube). It is available in both English and Spanish. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The website was disseminated by the Centre for Applied Human Rights as well as the organisation Protection International. According to Squarespace analytics, between 30 January 2023 and 28 February 2023, the website was visited by 199 unique users for a total of 232 visits. |
| URL | https://www.ritualisingprotection.org/ |
| Title | Project "'Ritualising' Protection in Conflict": Video Introduction |
| Description | The video introduction for the Ritualising Protection Project briefly present the project concept and main partners. It highlights the challenges faced by the Nasa indigenous community of the Resguardo de Huellas Caloto and the aims of the collaboration. It is filmed in Spanish and available with English subtitles. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The video was launched separately on the three social media platforms where the Ritualising Protection Project is present. It has been viewed 15 times on YouTube, 91 times on Twitter, and 566 times on Facebook. It has been re-tweeted/posted by Protection International, the Centre for Applied Human Rights, the York Law School, the Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas del Norte del Cauca. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlrmr2X8ivs&t=62s |
| Title | Project "'Ritualising' protection in conflict": Pervivir entre las violencias. Historias del pueblo Nasa en Colombia |
| Description | This film is an output of the Creating Safer Space project "'Ritualising' protection in conflict: A collaborative visual ethnography of the cultural and spiritual protection practices of the Nasa people in Colombia". This is the first of a series of three films that document both the research process and the themes addressed by the Ritualising Protection Project. The synopsis of the film is as follows: "The Nasa ancestral people of Colombia have been living in the midst of the Colombian armed conflict for decades. Armed groups, illicit economies, and large economic conglomerates often target them, jeopardising their physical, cultural, and spiritual survival, and ultimately endangering their ways of life. Through the eyes of Ana Deida, a Nasa woman leader from the Resguardo de Huellas Caloto, the Ritualising Protection Project team embarks on a journey to understand the risks faced daily by the community and their historical resistance processes." |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The film will be premiered in Aberystwyth on 24 March 2024 as part of the WOW Wales One World Film Festival. |
| Title | Project "'The Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia, Colombia" - Multimedia tool |
| Description | The project team shared a multimedia tool that contains the results of the project, available on the organisation's website. An event was held to present the results to relevant organisations and national and regional authorities responsible for the protection and guarantee for social leaders and human rights defenders and indigenous authorities. It sought to generate commitments for the protection of life and guarantees for the work of leadership. State authorities recognize the serious risk situation for social leaders and human rights defenders and indigenous authorities, but are unable to commit to strategies that provide protection and guarantees to the work of social leaders. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | No impacts reported yet. |
| URL | https://cjlibertad.org/psgbajocauca/ |
| Title | Project "Art That Protects": La Fiesta - filmed play |
| Description | La Fiesta is a play inspired by the findings of the research project Art That Protects and performed by Harlequin and the Jugglers. Its premiere in the Pablo Tobón Uribe Theatre of Medellín on 17 May 2023 was filmed. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | "La Fiesta" will be premiered at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "Civilian (Self-) Protection from Violent Conflict in Papua": Drawings by research participants. |
| Description | This is an output of the Creating Safer Space project "Civilian (Self-) Protection from Violent Conflict in Papua: Exploring Local Infrastructures and Initiatives". The artwork is hand drawings produced by research participants during fieldwork. The hand drawings depict the participants' thoughts and feelings about their situations in various places and the violence they have encountered. Interestingly, the drawings could also reflect gender-based minds and feelings. Male artists' drawings depict their anger about the violence and their expectations for the situation (negotiation for freedom). Meanwhile, female artists' drawings depict their longing for the peaceful situation they lost because of the conflict. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The drawings are exhibited as part of the Creating Safer Space exhibition (see separate entry for further information). |
| Title | Project "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia" - Three Participatory Videos and Most Significant Change (PVMSC) projects |
| Description | PVMSC is a participatory technique which allows groups and communities to reflect on experiences of social change, as well as to discuss and communicate learnings. It involves the collection of significant change stories among participants or groups within the community, and the selection of the most significant of these stories by the audience members. They worked together to identify key information, analyse the results, make the videos, and use the story to disseminate learning on educational change in Lerma, on community-based agency in Buenaventura, on women participation in Caldono. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The PVMSC were part of a strategy called travelling videos, which contributed to community and inter-community dialogues. The films produced in the PVMSC projects were used as 'Travelling Videos'. Each video was screened to PV participants in the other two communities, who produced their own short video in reply (e.g. picking up on points of comparison, or similarities/differences in experience). The resulting compilation of videos "in conversation" with one another was presented at the First Festival of Participatory Video and Community-based Cinema organised by the research team and delivered in Cali, 15-16 Nov 2023. |
| Title | Project "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia": Minga |
| Description | This film explores the history and meaning of a community-based socio-cultural and political practice known as Minga, an indigenous form of protest and resistance. The film looks at Minga in the context of armed conflict through the experiences of resistance of the Nasa indigenous communities in the department of Cauca, Colombia. It was created by a group of local researchers from the Indigenous Community of Caldono, Resguardo San Lorenzo, Ancestral land Sath Tama Kiwe in 2023. This film was produced as part of the research project Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | This film is shown at the 1st International Festival of Participatory Video and Community-based Cinema at the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO), Cali, Colombia in 2023, and at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in women displaced by the armed conflict in Cali, Colombia": Exhibition |
| Description | This is an output of the Creating Safer Space project "Development of civil protection capacities in women displaced by the armed conflict in Cali, Colombia". This exhibition displayed artwork co-created by Masterpeace Cali and the research participants, who were women in Colombia that had been displaced by armed conflict and who now reside in contexts characterized by social and urban segregation in the city of Cali. The exhibition is built so that at first the attendee learns about the women's experiences of unarmed civilian self-protection. The attendee then participates in the construction of a work that contributes to reflection on migration, violence and strategies of collective struggle to promote social cohesion as a basis for the peaceful defence of community organization. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The exhibition was open to the public for three days, during which 153 people visited, ranging from 22 to 58 years old: 102 women and 51 men. 68% of the visitors had a university level of education, 6% had a master's degree, and 2% had a Doctoral degree. 42% of the visitors identified themselves as victims of the Colombian armed conflict and, through their interaction with the exhibition, recognized the importance of disseminating the experience in UCP of the women who participated in the research, within their environments. |
| Title | Project "Exploring Community Perceptions and Coping Strategies on Violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar" - Storyboard and Life Domain Drawings |
| Description | The creative product took the form of visual drawing of storyboard, a medium to convey verbal communication using a series of sequential drawing, and life domain, a medium to visualise individual personal values. In this participatory data collection method where civilians of different ethnic background were asked to visualise their experience living in and before the conflict reemerged in central and northern Rakhine, since coup was instigated in February 2021. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Based on our observation during the Creating Safer Space Exhibition held at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in February 2024, in which the storyboards feature, the artwork invites attendees of the exhibition to further discuss how the armed violence affects the lives of Rakhine people. One major highlight of the artwork is to promote the notion of the structural violence faced by Rohingya people living in Rakhine through drawing. |
| Title | Project "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict": Drawings |
| Description | Drawings produced by local people on their experiences and perspectives on living amidst armed conflict in the English-speaking North West and South West regions of Cameroon. These are an output of the Creating Safer Space project "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict". |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Some of the drawings are included in the Creating Safer Space exhibition; please see this entry for further information. |
| Title | Project "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict": Poetry |
| Description | Poems produced by local people on their experiences and perspectives on living amidst armed conflict in the English-speaking North West and South West regions of Cameroon. These are an output of the Creating Safer Space project "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict". |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Some of the poems are included in the Creating Safer Space exhibition; please see this entry for further information. |
| Title | Project "Nonviolent Artivism Against Police Brutality in Kenya" - Drawings |
| Description | Participants' drawings of police brutality in Kenya. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Awareness and Advocacy: Some of the shared pictures created awareness of police brutality and thereby encouraged dialogue between community members and the police. As a result of these dialogues, some community-based organisations in Kisumu have developed a positive working relationship with the police. Psychological Impact: Relieving the traumatic experience of some of the respondents. Perception by international audience: The pictures displayed during the 'Final Regional Event for Africa and the Middle East' in Nairobi, Kenya elicited discussions. |
| Title | Project "Safety and dignity": Civil protection to stay on our land: Palestine |
| Description | Produced by local film makers, this film documents the experience of Palestinian farmers and shepherds with civil protection in the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta). It explores the efficacy of unarmed civilian protection and how to strengthen self-protection against the threats of expulsion and dispossession by Israel and the settlers. This film was produced as part of the research project Safety and dignity: Enhancing unarmed civilian protection amongst Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The film is shown at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "The Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia, Colombia": Cuidando la vida en comunidad / Caring for community life |
| Description | In Caring for Community Life, the Senú indigenous people of the Almendros 2 reservation in El Bagre, one of the municipalities hardest hit by armed violence in Colombia, tell how they have been organizing to resist armed groups and remain in their ancestral territories. This film was produced as part of the research project The Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia, Colombia, an experience of unarmed civil protection with indigenous and peasant communities of Bajo Cauca. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The film is shown at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact": Learning video of JSCP |
| Description | This is an output of the Creating Safer Space project "Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact: Learning from the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace for enhanced civilian protection in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria". It is a 17 minute learning video of the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This is a learning video that was used for a two day workshop with 5 communities for screening and discussion and with government agencies and practitioners in Maiduguri to enable the adoption of a UCP model. An informal UCP network has been launched. |
| URL | https://drive.google.com/file/d/17RYzsT49RVXhYQZP2ihf8ssF6fPFPAB2/view |
| Title | Project "Understanding Community-level Spontaneous Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP): A Comparative Study of Initiatives in South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia" - Posters |
| Description | Series of 5 posters for knowledge dissemination on spontaneous unarmed civilian protection in Nariño, Colombia. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | No impact yet. |
| Title | Project "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection": River Dormilón (San Luis) |
| Description | This video is one in a series of three videos which emerged from a project that explored water conflicts around the rivers La Paloma (Argelia), Santo Domingo (San Francisco) and Dormilón (San Luis) in the Oriente region of the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Peasant communities and organizations in the region have a history of social mobilization against extractivist projects such as hydroelectric power plants, mining, and construction works in protected areas. These projects, often backed by armed actors, have changed the landscape and agricultural lifestyle of many municipalities. Community self-protection in these contexts includes cultivating social practices and relationships aimed at caring for water and life. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This film has been shown in Antioquia, Colombia, and at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection": River La Paloma (Argelia) |
| Description | This video is one in a series of three videos which emerged from a project that explored water conflicts around the rivers La Paloma (Argelia), Santo Domingo (San Francisco) and Dormilón (San Luis) in the Oriente region of the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Peasant communities and organizations in the region have a history of social mobilization against extractivist projects such as hydroelectric power plants, mining, and construction works in protected areas. These projects, often backed by armed actors, have changed the landscape and agricultural lifestyle of many municipalities. Community self-protection in these contexts includes cultivating social practices and relationships aimed at caring for water and life. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This film has been shown in Argelia, Colombia, and at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Title | Project "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection": River Santo Domingo (San Francisco) |
| Description | This video is one in a series of three videos which emerged from a project that explored water conflicts around the rivers La Paloma (Argelia), Santo Domingo (San Francisco) and Dormilón (San Luis) in the Oriente region of the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Peasant communities and organizations in the region have a history of social mobilization against extractivist projects such as hydroelectric power plants, mining, and construction works in protected areas. These projects, often backed by armed actors, have changed the landscape and agricultural lifestyle of many municipalities. Community self-protection in these contexts includes cultivating social practices and relationships aimed at caring for water and life. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This film has been shown in Antioquia, Colombia, and at the 2024 WOW Wales One World Film Festival in Aberystwyth and online (global audience). |
| URL | https://www.wowfilmfestival.com/creatingsaferspace |
| Description | Project "Exploring Community Perceptions and Coping Strategies on Violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar" - Increased usage of arts-based data collection in local research practice |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | It became immediately clear during the training that even the local researchers who had been recruited for data collection in the project team's past research project were not aware of this method. The overall reception by the volunteers was welcoming with some dubbing it as less 'risky' method in data collection. By having to practice the methods at least once a month, the team also received data collection feedback from participants who gave their thought on the most reassuring approach. If security situation improves in Rakhine State, the team would like to collect more information on the success of the methods. |
| Description | Project "Gender-just landscapes" - Research evidence from the Philippines used in the CEDAW Shadow Report on the situation of rural women in the Philippines (2023) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Project "Mapping and Responding to Vulnerability through Nonviolent Collective Actions in Buenaventura, Colombia" - Advocacy meetings in Bogota |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | The event contributed to awareness raising the immediate needs. Longer-term impacts are yet unknown. |
| Description | Project "Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact" - New UCP network in Maiduguri, Nigeria |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Creation of an informal UCP network in Borno state, and adoption of UCP into everyday security practices in the five communities that took part in the community screenings, specifically: i. There are existing platforms in the communities already that promote nonviolent peacebuilding, but the majority of those platforms were unaware of the UCP model before this project. The project therefore exposed participants to the concept of UCP and made them develop thoughts of being deliberate about UCP mechanisms; ii. The video screening workshop encouraged the participants to be deliberate about community and civilian driven peace and security endeavours, thereby minimizing the assumption that only government security actors could provide peace and security; iii. Participants expressed readiness to promote UCP and nonviolent peacebuilding in their communities and areas of endeavours with some of them citing examples of how these can be achieved; iv. Participants require further training on how the concept would be specifically contextualized in line with the peacebuilding efforts and what resonates in Maiduguri in order for sustainable effort. |
| Description | GRCF Network Plus 2022 Funding |
| Amount | £99,999 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/T008024/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Research Impact Leave Funding |
| Amount | £16,594 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Research Impact Small Grant |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Leeds Beckett University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | W23/32HE: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) Institutional Support Grant |
| Amount | £240,865 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Title | UCPResearch Database on unarmed civilian protection and community self-protection |
| Description | Searchable annotated bibliography and document database collecting existing knowledge about unarmed civilian (self-)protection-including outside/local protection actors and communities' self-protection initiatives-, taking into account academic and grey literatures as well as other sources of information/knowledge and ways of knowing. Specific focus on the project core countries Colombia, Myanmar, the Philippines and South Sudan, but also mapping more conceptional/theoretical literatures as well as other cases of UCP and community self-protection. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | As the database was only recently published, there are no notable impacts to be reported yet. |
| URL | https://ucpresearch.resourcespace.com/ |
| Description | 'Ritualising' protection in conflict: a collaborative visual ethnography of the cultural and spiritual protection practices of the Nasa people in Colombia |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Department | Centre for Applied Human Rights |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "'Ritualising' protection in conflict: a collaborative visual ethnography of the cultural and spiritual protection practices of the Nasa people in Colombia" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research project "'Ritualising' protection in conflict: a collaborative visual ethnography of the cultural and spiritual protection practices of the Nasa people in Colombia" contributes to the N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. Indigenous peoples in Colombia are caught in the midst of an armed conflict that has lasted for more than fifty years. Despite an elaborate protection architecture, the state has so far been unable to effectively protect them. Hence, in order to survive, indigenous communities have had to devise their own self-protection strategies. Not only do these strategies encompass the physical and psychosocial dimension of security, but they also draw on ancestral spiritual and cultural practices that both strengthen the indigenous communities' physical protection and reaffirm their self-determination. However, these practices are often misunderstood by the state structures, which fail to implement support strategies to support them. The project seeks to understand how ancestral spiritual and cultural practices protect indigenous communities in the midst of armed conflict and what coordination mechanisms could be put in place to ensure that these practices are effectively supported by the state. The project seeks to generate a conceptual and visual representation of these practices through a collaborative visual ethnographic study of the Nasa people of the Resguardo Indígena de Huellas Caloto, an indigenous community situated in the North of the Cauca Department in one of the areas worst affected by the armed conflict. Research team: Piergiuseppe Parisi, Centre for Applied Human Rights / York Law School, University of York, UK; Lehidy Carolina Baltam Salazar, researcher, Popayán, Cauca, Colombia; Resguardo Indígenas de Huellas Caloto, Colombia. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Art that Protects, phase 1: Contributions of artistic-cultural initiatives to the self-protection strategies of young people and women in the context of the urban conflict in the city of Medellín, 2022 |
| Organisation | University of Antioquia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Art that Protects, phase 1" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Art that Protects, phase 1" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The research project studies the contributions of artistic-cultural initiatives to the self-protection strategies of young people and women in the context of the urban conflict in the city of Medellín, 2022. The project aims to focus on two issues less explored in the existing literature on civilian self-protection: first, how forms of self-protection are related to urban conflict-related violations, with an emphasis on women and youth; and second, what place and meaning artistic and cultural practices developed by community-based organisations take in forms of self-protection. The research is carried out in the city of Medellin, Colombia, in collaboration with artistic and cultural organisations active in neighbourhoods affected by urban violence (central, north-eastern and north-western communities, as well as peri-urban districts). Exploring these questions allows to re-dimension the concept of civilian self-protection and its strategic possibilities for a better living of urban communities. Research team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Adriana Diosa, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares; Giovanni Pérez Cárdenas, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Art that protects, phase 2: Networks as strategies for self-protection in the context of urban conflict in the city of Medellín, 2023 |
| Organisation | University of Antioquia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Art that Protects, phase 2" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 phase 2 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Art that Protects, phase 2" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The first phase of the Art that Protects project documented the place of artistic and cultural initiatives developed by community-based organisations in the city of Medellín in the landscape of nonviolent self-protection. Issues such as legitimacy, permanence in the territory, and the commitment to socially engaged art appeared as key elements to understanding the self-protective character of these initiatives. In our investigation we found, firstly, that violations are not produced on the basis of isolated categories such as gender or age, but by a combination and superimposition of different social factors; and secondly, that the network of relationships and alliances between artistic and cultural organisations is a key strategy that allows them to generate sustainability and "armour" in the face of violations. These findings are further explored in the second phase of the project, in order to identify the type of networks that have been formed, how their exchanges take place, and what collaborative strategies they use, and to understand the effects on the self-protection of communities in the context of the urban conflict in Medellín from an intersectional reading of social vulnerabilities. Research team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Adriana Diosa, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares; Freddy Giovanni Pérez Cárdenas, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares; Sandra Maryori Benitez Diosa Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares; Victoria Strauss (member of the Trans People's Network/Red Popular Trans), University of Antioquia. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned |
| Organisation | Autonomous University of Occident |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The project investigates and seeks to strengthen the extraordinary capacity of Colombian communities to navigate the complex conflicts that threaten their security. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, which conducts research with rather than on communities, the team collaborates with grassroots organisations and train community researchers in three diverse communities in the Pacific region of South-West Colombia: i) the predominantly Afro-Colombian port city of Buenaventura; ii) mestizo coca growers based in and around the town of Lerma; and iii) members of an indigenous coffee-growing cooperative in Caldono, Toribio, Santander de Quilichao and Bolivar municipalities. Through an extended engagement with these communities, and utilising a variety of ethnographic, archival and participatory research methods including the use of Participatory Video, the project aims to: Document and analyse the diverse experiences, initiatives and infrastructures of Unarmed Civilian Protection in Colombia's Pacific region; Identify and disseminate lessons for effective Unarmed Civilian Protection at a regional, national and international level; Strengthen community capacity for self-analysis and project collaboration through training in participatory research. The overarching goal of the project is to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and experiences which enhances community capacities for UCP in the region and beyond. Research Team: Juan Mario Díaz, University of Sheffield, UK (principal investigator); Simon Rushton, University of Sheffield, UK (co-investigator); Arlene B. Tickner, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia (co-investigator); Jesús Alfonso Flórez López, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Natalia Campo, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Adrián Alzate, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator) Corporación Memoria y Paz (CORMEPAZ) (project partner); Central Cooperativa Indígena del Cauca (CENCOIC) (project partner); Escuela Agroambiental El Arraigo - Comunidad del Lerma (project partner); Pastoral Social Popayán (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned |
| Organisation | Del Rosario University |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The project investigates and seeks to strengthen the extraordinary capacity of Colombian communities to navigate the complex conflicts that threaten their security. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, which conducts research with rather than on communities, the team collaborates with grassroots organisations and train community researchers in three diverse communities in the Pacific region of South-West Colombia: i) the predominantly Afro-Colombian port city of Buenaventura; ii) mestizo coca growers based in and around the town of Lerma; and iii) members of an indigenous coffee-growing cooperative in Caldono, Toribio, Santander de Quilichao and Bolivar municipalities. Through an extended engagement with these communities, and utilising a variety of ethnographic, archival and participatory research methods including the use of Participatory Video, the project aims to: Document and analyse the diverse experiences, initiatives and infrastructures of Unarmed Civilian Protection in Colombia's Pacific region; Identify and disseminate lessons for effective Unarmed Civilian Protection at a regional, national and international level; Strengthen community capacity for self-analysis and project collaboration through training in participatory research. The overarching goal of the project is to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and experiences which enhances community capacities for UCP in the region and beyond. Research Team: Juan Mario Díaz, University of Sheffield, UK (principal investigator); Simon Rushton, University of Sheffield, UK (co-investigator); Arlene B. Tickner, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia (co-investigator); Jesús Alfonso Flórez López, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Natalia Campo, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Adrián Alzate, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator) Corporación Memoria y Paz (CORMEPAZ) (project partner); Central Cooperativa Indígena del Cauca (CENCOIC) (project partner); Escuela Agroambiental El Arraigo - Comunidad del Lerma (project partner); Pastoral Social Popayán (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The project investigates and seeks to strengthen the extraordinary capacity of Colombian communities to navigate the complex conflicts that threaten their security. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, which conducts research with rather than on communities, the team collaborates with grassroots organisations and train community researchers in three diverse communities in the Pacific region of South-West Colombia: i) the predominantly Afro-Colombian port city of Buenaventura; ii) mestizo coca growers based in and around the town of Lerma; and iii) members of an indigenous coffee-growing cooperative in Caldono, Toribio, Santander de Quilichao and Bolivar municipalities. Through an extended engagement with these communities, and utilising a variety of ethnographic, archival and participatory research methods including the use of Participatory Video, the project aims to: Document and analyse the diverse experiences, initiatives and infrastructures of Unarmed Civilian Protection in Colombia's Pacific region; Identify and disseminate lessons for effective Unarmed Civilian Protection at a regional, national and international level; Strengthen community capacity for self-analysis and project collaboration through training in participatory research. The overarching goal of the project is to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and experiences which enhances community capacities for UCP in the region and beyond. Research Team: Juan Mario Díaz, University of Sheffield, UK (principal investigator); Simon Rushton, University of Sheffield, UK (co-investigator); Arlene B. Tickner, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia (co-investigator); Jesús Alfonso Flórez López, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Natalia Campo, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator); Adrián Alzate, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia (co-investigator) Corporación Memoria y Paz (CORMEPAZ) (project partner); Central Cooperativa Indígena del Cauca (CENCOIC) (project partner); Escuela Agroambiental El Arraigo - Comunidad del Lerma (project partner); Pastoral Social Popayán (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Development of civil protection capacities in women displaced by the armed conflict through popular communication and Community Legal Empowerment |
| Organisation | University of Valle |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Development of civil protection capacities in women displaced by the armed conflict through popular communication and Community Legal Empowerment" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Development of civil protection capacities in women displaced by the armed conflict through popular communication and Community Legal Empowerment" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic area 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The research project takes a qualitative approach based on a research-action design, to explore experiences with unarmed civilian self-protection among victims of the armed conflict in Colombia who live in contexts of socio-urban segregation, where they continue to be exposed to multiple violences related to a politics of fear. The team uses innovative strategies of community advocacy and audio-narratives to ensure active participation and to produce testimonial resources of the women's collective struggles for social cohesion as a basis for the peaceful defence of their communities. Research Team: Luisa Maria Colonia, Masterpeace Cali, Colombia (principal investigator); Gustavo Suárez, Universidad del Valle, Colombia (co-investigator); Fundación Carvajal, Colombia (project partner); Unicatólica, Colombia (project partner); Humanos: Foro Iberoamericano de Periodistas en DDHH, Colombia (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Exploring Community Perceptions and Coping Strategies on Violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar |
| Organisation | London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Exploring Community Perceptions and Coping Strategies on Violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Exploring Community Perceptions and Coping Strategies on Violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 2 - Building local protection infrastructures. The research explores how local ethnic groups in the Rakhine state, Myanmar, identify and cope with the local violent events they have encountered or anticipated. Region-wide violence has become a common experience among those living in the conflict-ridden region of the Rakhine state. Within the span of two decades, there were at least three crises that sparked violence across the region: the 2012 sectarian conflict between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine; the 2016-2017 violent campaign against Rohingya; and the occasional armed conflict between Myanmar's armed force, Tatmadaw, and the local ethnic armed group, the Arakan Army (AA). These prominent events have never been fully resolved but linger as a pretext for the violent incidents encountered by the members of these local ethnic groups. The project explores local peace infrastructures and unarmed civilian protection strategies through the lens of ethnic groups living in both central and northern Rakhine areas. It uses a participatory action research approach not only to compare different conceptions of violence of the different ethnic groups in the region but also to explore divergent strategies of said groups to handle and reduce violence in their respective communities. With this core research design, the project involves its sampled members of ethnic local groups throughout all phases of the research project design, implementation, and post-data collection. Their feedback on the finding is critical later on to better understand the local capacity to engage with unarmed civilian protection strategies. Research Team: Abellia Anggi Wardani, Knowledge-Hub Myanmar - Center for Social Integrity (Principal Investigator); Riyad Anwar, Knowledge-Hub Myanmar - Center for Social Integrity; Florian Weigand, Centre on Armed Groups and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); Tony Neil, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict |
| Organisation | African Leadership Institute |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. It investigates community-led initiatives of unarmed civilian protection in the ongoing 'Anglophone conflict' in Cameroon. Subjected to violence from both the military and armed separatist groups, civilians have been pro-active and resourceful in devising ways to protect each other and stay safe, inclusive of coded language, non-verbal communication, direct negotiation with the warring parties, early warning networks and information sharing through local associations and social media. The creation of a culture where 'everybody is one another's keeper' has been crucial in enabling citizens to sustain their lives within the conflict zones since 2016. The role of women and women's organisations is especially significant. Thus, this research explores bottom-up approaches to UCP, inclusive of their strengthening, and provides an important contribution to knowledge about informal and innovative grassroots efforts of civilian self-protection that involve vulnerable civilians' own agency. Research methods include arts-based and creative approaches (participatory storytelling, poetry, and drawing) that enable conflict-affected communities to co-create knowledge. The research project is conducted by a team of UK-based and Cameroon-based researchers and practitioners that has previously undertaken successful research on this neglected conflict. The three NGO members are all currently involved in providing humanitarian support to civilians in the conflict zones. Project Investigators, Partner, and Roles: PI: Prof Gordon Crawford, is Research Professor in Global Development, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University (CU). He is responsible for overall leadership, research design and management of the project, including ethical approval and write-up of research outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Prof James Kiven Kewir, is a Professor of Conflict Prevention and Regional Integration and Research Hub Leader for Central Africa, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Nairobi, Kenya. He is responsible for organisation and management of all aspects of data collection in Cameroon, and management of Cameroonian team members. Contribution to write-up of outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Dr Nancy Annan, is an Assistant Professor, at the Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University (CU). She is responsible for review of relevant secondary literature on UPC and the Anglophone conflict, preparation of interview guides, data transcriptions and analysis using NVivo, project webpage and social media presence. Contribution to write-up of outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Dr Bernard Sakah, is the Managing Director of Big Steps Outreach Network (BONET), Cameroon. BONET is a youth organisation. Responsible for organisation of data collection in the Northwest Region, and a focus on youth participation. // Co-I: Ms Atim Evenye Niger-Thomas, is the Assistant Executive Director, Authentic Memorial Empowerment Foundation (AMEF- https://ameffoundation.org/), Cameroon. She is a PhD candidate in Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at International University of Applied Sciences for Development (IUASD) Sao Tome in partnership with IPD Yaoundé. Responsible for organisation of data collection in the Southwest Region. // Co-I: Ms Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, is the Executive Director, Women for a Change (Wfac - https://wfaccameroon.org/), Cameroon. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Buea. She is jointly responsible for organisation of data collection, focusing on women's participation. Facilitator of participatory storytelling workshops. // Project partner: Mr Billy Burton, is the Co-Director of the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities https://research.rotman.utoronto.ca/Cameroon/Default.htm. Responsible for the preliminary mapping exercise. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict |
| Organisation | Coventry University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Exploring unarmed civilian self-protection in Cameroon's Anglophone conflict" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. It investigates community-led initiatives of unarmed civilian protection in the ongoing 'Anglophone conflict' in Cameroon. Subjected to violence from both the military and armed separatist groups, civilians have been pro-active and resourceful in devising ways to protect each other and stay safe, inclusive of coded language, non-verbal communication, direct negotiation with the warring parties, early warning networks and information sharing through local associations and social media. The creation of a culture where 'everybody is one another's keeper' has been crucial in enabling citizens to sustain their lives within the conflict zones since 2016. The role of women and women's organisations is especially significant. Thus, this research explores bottom-up approaches to UCP, inclusive of their strengthening, and provides an important contribution to knowledge about informal and innovative grassroots efforts of civilian self-protection that involve vulnerable civilians' own agency. Research methods include arts-based and creative approaches (participatory storytelling, poetry, and drawing) that enable conflict-affected communities to co-create knowledge. The research project is conducted by a team of UK-based and Cameroon-based researchers and practitioners that has previously undertaken successful research on this neglected conflict. The three NGO members are all currently involved in providing humanitarian support to civilians in the conflict zones. Project Investigators, Partner, and Roles: PI: Prof Gordon Crawford, is Research Professor in Global Development, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University (CU). He is responsible for overall leadership, research design and management of the project, including ethical approval and write-up of research outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Prof James Kiven Kewir, is a Professor of Conflict Prevention and Regional Integration and Research Hub Leader for Central Africa, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Nairobi, Kenya. He is responsible for organisation and management of all aspects of data collection in Cameroon, and management of Cameroonian team members. Contribution to write-up of outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Dr Nancy Annan, is an Assistant Professor, at the Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University (CU). She is responsible for review of relevant secondary literature on UPC and the Anglophone conflict, preparation of interview guides, data transcriptions and analysis using NVivo, project webpage and social media presence. Contribution to write-up of outputs and dissemination. // Co-I: Dr Bernard Sakah, is the Managing Director of Big Steps Outreach Network (BONET), Cameroon. BONET is a youth organisation. Responsible for organisation of data collection in the Northwest Region, and a focus on youth participation. // Co-I: Ms Atim Evenye Niger-Thomas, is the Assistant Executive Director, Authentic Memorial Empowerment Foundation (AMEF- https://ameffoundation.org/), Cameroon. She is a PhD candidate in Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at International University of Applied Sciences for Development (IUASD) Sao Tome in partnership with IPD Yaoundé. Responsible for organisation of data collection in the Southwest Region. // Co-I: Ms Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, is the Executive Director, Women for a Change (Wfac - https://wfaccameroon.org/), Cameroon. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Buea. She is jointly responsible for organisation of data collection, focusing on women's participation. Facilitator of participatory storytelling workshops. // Project partner: Mr Billy Burton, is the Co-Director of the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities https://research.rotman.utoronto.ca/Cameroon/Default.htm. Responsible for the preliminary mapping exercise. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts |
| Organisation | Bayero University Kano |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 2 - Building local protection infrastructures. Gender-based violence (GBV) is experienced by one in three women worldwide; however, the risk of GBV grows substantially in conflict. The scale and endemic nature of GBV means that understanding vulnerability, drivers and impact is an urgent public health, human rights and policy issue. However, there is less awareness about the relationship between GBV and land, natural resource and climate-related conflict. The research aims to address this gap in knowledge and improve understanding of the nature and risk factors of GBV related to natural resource and climate-related conflict, locate community responses to GBV risks, and identify opportunities to strengthen Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) approaches by learning from community responses. The project will consolidate the evidence base and develop illustrative case studies in Colombia, Nigeria and the Philippines, which will provide learning from varied contexts and potential opportunities to adapt and apply UCP. The project will co-design an equitable and inclusive programme of research using visual and participatory action research methods that will establish new networks for UCP scaling and for GBV specialists with land, natural resource and climate conflict specialists. This will provide a basis for engagement, exchange and creation with academics, civil society, UCP advocates and practitioners and policy makers, to foster support for communities experiencing violence. Team Members: Dr Lora Forsythe (PI), Associate Professor Gender, Inequalities and Food Systems, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK // Colombia: Javier Lautaro Medina Bernal (Co-I), Project Manager, member of the Technical Secretariat of the International Verification Component of the Peace Agreement, and coordinator of the National Engagement Strategy in Colombia with the International Land Coalition Conflict, State and Peace Programme, Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular (CINEP); Diana Lopez Castaneda (researcher), Independent Consultant // Nigeria: Dr Aliyu Barau (Co-I), Associate Professor Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bayero University Kano // Philippines: Timothy F. Salomon (Co-I), Facilitator National Engagement Strategy in the Philippines for the International Land Coalition Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CARRD) // United Kingdom: Lilian Treasure (Researcher), PhD Candidate and Vice Chancellor Scholar, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich; Dr Uche Okpara (Co-I), Fellow in Climate Change and State Fragility Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich; Professor Tilman Brück (Co-I), Visiting Professor of Food Security, State Fragility and Climate Change Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts |
| Organisation | University of Greenwich |
| Department | Natural Resources Institute Greenwich |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Gender-just landscapes: Gender based violence and community protection in land, natural resource and climate conflicts" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 2 - Building local protection infrastructures. Gender-based violence (GBV) is experienced by one in three women worldwide; however, the risk of GBV grows substantially in conflict. The scale and endemic nature of GBV means that understanding vulnerability, drivers and impact is an urgent public health, human rights and policy issue. However, there is less awareness about the relationship between GBV and land, natural resource and climate-related conflict. The research aims to address this gap in knowledge and improve understanding of the nature and risk factors of GBV related to natural resource and climate-related conflict, locate community responses to GBV risks, and identify opportunities to strengthen Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) approaches by learning from community responses. The project will consolidate the evidence base and develop illustrative case studies in Colombia, Nigeria and the Philippines, which will provide learning from varied contexts and potential opportunities to adapt and apply UCP. The project will co-design an equitable and inclusive programme of research using visual and participatory action research methods that will establish new networks for UCP scaling and for GBV specialists with land, natural resource and climate conflict specialists. This will provide a basis for engagement, exchange and creation with academics, civil society, UCP advocates and practitioners and policy makers, to foster support for communities experiencing violence. Team Members: Dr Lora Forsythe (PI), Associate Professor Gender, Inequalities and Food Systems, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK // Colombia: Javier Lautaro Medina Bernal (Co-I), Project Manager, member of the Technical Secretariat of the International Verification Component of the Peace Agreement, and coordinator of the National Engagement Strategy in Colombia with the International Land Coalition Conflict, State and Peace Programme, Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular (CINEP); Diana Lopez Castaneda (researcher), Independent Consultant // Nigeria: Dr Aliyu Barau (Co-I), Associate Professor Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bayero University Kano // Philippines: Timothy F. Salomon (Co-I), Facilitator National Engagement Strategy in the Philippines for the International Land Coalition Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CARRD) // United Kingdom: Lilian Treasure (Researcher), PhD Candidate and Vice Chancellor Scholar, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich; Dr Uche Okpara (Co-I), Fellow in Climate Change and State Fragility Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich; Professor Tilman Brück (Co-I), Visiting Professor of Food Security, State Fragility and Climate Change Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society: Opportunities and Challenges |
| Organisation | Chulalongkorn University |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society: Opportunities and Challenges" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society: Opportunities and Challenges" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The research project starts from the observation that, while nonviolent resistance is known to the general public in Thailand, "unarmed civilian protection" is not a familiar language. As a low intensity conflict society, yet with persisting structural violence, the Thai state monopolizes protection in all conflicts; yet vulnerabilities amidst conflicts show a close link between physical harm and structural violence based on political suppression and social prejudices. The study adopts the idea that unarmed civilian protection can help reduce violence-prone conflict and that protection from violence can be shared by civilians or communities. It assumes that nonviolent struggles usually contain an element of protection, and thus sets out to understand how protection has been used amidst conflicts by local actors in Thailand and to explore whether the language (and strategies) of unarmed civilian protection can be instrumental to better conflict management. Civilian protection experiences are traced back through selected critical conflict events, including ethno-political conflict in the south, political protests and tensions, and development-related conflict. To this end, a series of dialogues with officials as well as activists is implemented to share knowledge of past and recent experiences and shortcomings of civilian protection amidst conflicts in Thailand. With the state monopolization of protection and the government as the main conflict party, communication of unarmed civilian protection with the security sector is a primary concern of this research. Thereby, this short-term project hopes that unarmed civilian protection will be introduced in resonance with the local language together with policy recommendations for better conflict management. Normalization of unarmed civilian protection can begin, it is hoped, from getting people to talk about it. The research team included: Chantana Wungeao, Peace and Conflict Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (principal investigator); Mark Tamthai, Strategic Nonviolence Working Group, Thailand (co-investigator); Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | New inclusion of Haki Africa to Network + regional network |
| Organisation | HAKI Africa |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Connection was made to develop capacity and network of partners Haki Africa through the regional event of the Creating Safer Space Network+ on community security and protection, held at Strathmore University, Nairobi. We provided training and potential for building an East African network on how to improve community security. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Haki Africa brought their knowledge and expertise of violence, harm and local capacity within Kibera in Nairobi. They were able to identify new collaboration opportunities with other local NGOs and researchers. |
| Impact | Outcomes are currently new research opportunities using creative methods. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Nonviolent Peaceforce |
| Organisation | Nonviolent Peaceforce |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Involvement in the co-design and co-facilitation of regional workshops with international, regional, national and local organisations providing unarmed civilian protection to civilians amidst violent conflict and displacement, as well as with beneficiaries of this work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to the unarmed civilian protection (UCP) community of practice. |
| Impact | Workshops were held in Latin America (Bogota, 2020), Europe (online, 2021), and with United Nations staff and diplomatic missions (New York, 2019). The first Global Gathering of UCP organisations was held online in 2021, with an in-person gathering to follow in Geneva in 2023. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Safety and dignity: Enhancing unarmed civilian protection amongst Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta) |
| Organisation | Coventry University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Safety and dignity: Enhancing unarmed civilian protection amongst Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta)" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Safety and dignity: Enhancing unarmed civilian protection amongst Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta)" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. In the South Hebron Hills (Masafer Yatta) of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) there are a 32 small Palestinian farmer and Bedouin communities living and working on land from which the Israeli state and settlers seek to expel them. To support the local resistance numerous actors (Palestinian, Israeli and international) have sought to protect the civilian population from the escalating acts of violence by settlers in which their crops, livestock, dwellings and lives have been targeted. B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights organisation concluded that the Israeli state has been using settler violence to cleanse the area of Palestinians. This research seeks to analyse the history of the twenty or more years of attempts by civilian actors to support the local communities in their attempts to create safer spaces within which they can continue to maintain their livelihoods, hold on to their land and way of life. The case study is particularly significant because of the number and range of actors intervening, each with their own mode of operation and motivation. As such it presents a special opportunity to examine the challenges faced by those seeking to broaden the scale of civilian intervention in violent conflict situations as a basis for sustainable peace. Research team: Dr Marwan Darweish is the principal investigator (PI) of the project, with overall responsibility for the management, planning and delivery of the project. Dr Andrew Rigby is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies with the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), of which he was the founding director. Dr Mahmoud Soliman is a Research Fellow at the CTPSR, based in the West Bank and closely associated with the Al-Shmoh Cultural Center, a small NGO in the OPT. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Scholars at Risk: Understanding Vulnerability and violence faced by Myanmar Refugee Scholars in Northern Thailand |
| Organisation | Nonviolent Peaceforce |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | "Scholars at Risk: Understanding Vulnerability and violence faced by Myanmar Refugee Scholars in Northern Thailand" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Scholars at Risk: Understanding Vulnerability and violence faced by Myanmar Refugee Scholars in Northern Thailand" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic area 1 (Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict) and 3 (Developing civilian protection capabilities). Using participatory action research (PAR) and autoethnographic methods, and working with Myanmar scholars who have fled to northern Thailand, the project is researching refugees' vulnerabilities as well as existing unarmed civilian protection (UCP) practices and mechanisms in the northern part of Thailand. The project will do so from the perspective of Myanmar refugees' daily experiences, focussing on the tactics and strategies they have developed over time in order to protect themselves and others. Specifically, the study aims at understanding vulnerabilities and harms faced by Myanmar refugee scholars and the resiliency and effectiveness of civilian protection mechanisms for scholars in northern Thailand. Its findings and outputs will contribute to knowledge development, public awareness raising, and policy. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia |
| Organisation | London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia" contributes to the N+ Creating Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 2 - Building local protection infrastructures. Artists who create political and socially engaged work are increasingly at risk. In contexts of protracted socio-political conflicts or post-peace agreements, discussions of safety and protection for social and cultural leaders (where artists and allied activists are situated), are often reduced to mitigating risk to harm and physical violence. Less is known about how artists, allies or their organizations experience those harms and what protection infrastructures they build up to continue collective action. This project identifies how artists and allied activists understand protection and vulnerability based on lived experiences. This interdisciplinary research connects South Sudan and Colombia. It compares findings from research conducted in South Sudan (2020-2022) with new research in Colombia (2023) to investigate two key questions: first, how do artists seek safety in times of conflict and unstable peace? Second, how can creative methods be used to investigate vulnerability and map out networks of safety, going beyond the need for artist protection and into collective solidarity within activist communities? The research focuses on protection infrastructures that are rarely featured in literature on unarmed civilian protection. Art commissions, an exhibition, blogs, policy briefs and an illustrated catalogue makes the research accessible within and outside academia. Research team: Kara Blackmore, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, Department of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK (principal investigator); José Fernando Serrano-Amaya, Department of Language and Culture, University of Los Andes, Colombia; Rebecca Lorins, School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan; Likikiri Collective, South Sudan; Manuela Lara, independent artist, Colombia. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia |
| Organisation | University of the Andes |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding protection through creativity in South Sudan and Colombia" contributes to the N+ Creating Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 2 - Building local protection infrastructures. Artists who create political and socially engaged work are increasingly at risk. In contexts of protracted socio-political conflicts or post-peace agreements, discussions of safety and protection for social and cultural leaders (where artists and allied activists are situated), are often reduced to mitigating risk to harm and physical violence. Less is known about how artists, allies or their organizations experience those harms and what protection infrastructures they build up to continue collective action. This project identifies how artists and allied activists understand protection and vulnerability based on lived experiences. This interdisciplinary research connects South Sudan and Colombia. It compares findings from research conducted in South Sudan (2020-2022) with new research in Colombia (2023) to investigate two key questions: first, how do artists seek safety in times of conflict and unstable peace? Second, how can creative methods be used to investigate vulnerability and map out networks of safety, going beyond the need for artist protection and into collective solidarity within activist communities? The research focuses on protection infrastructures that are rarely featured in literature on unarmed civilian protection. Art commissions, an exhibition, blogs, policy briefs and an illustrated catalogue makes the research accessible within and outside academia. Research team: Kara Blackmore, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, Department of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK (principal investigator); José Fernando Serrano-Amaya, Department of Language and Culture, University of Los Andes, Colombia; Rebecca Lorins, School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan; Likikiri Collective, South Sudan; Manuela Lara, independent artist, Colombia. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | UCP in southern Thailand: Developing civilian protection guidelines for violence-prone communities |
| Organisation | Prince of Songkla University Thailand |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "UCP in southern Thailand: Developing civilian protection guidelines for violence-prone communities" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "UCP in southern Thailand: Developing civilian protection guidelines for violence-prone communities" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic area 2 - Building Local Protection Infrastructures. The conflict in the Deep South of Thailand has lasted for over 18 years, with the state trying to resolve the issue militarily. This approach, however, has not ended the conflict. Unarmed civilian protection (UCP) is a tool that can be used to manage conflicts and help protect civilians in conflict areas. This research aims to develop guidelines for protecting civilians at the community level in the Deep South of Thailand and apply UCP theory and tools based on existing community infrastructures for protection. The study will use a participatory research methodology and be conducted with a target group of three communities in Thailand's southern provinces. With the participation and consent of all parties, the aim is to create a safer space in which communities pursue their own peace initiatives. The project team believe that the adoption of UCP mechanisms in the southern provinces of Thailand could also help to transform the use of securitisation and violent force by the state into the adoption of the nonviolent method to protect civilians. It will engage in discussions of UCP at the policy level to test this idea |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact: Learning from the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace (JSCP) for enhanced civilian protection in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact: Learning from the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace (JSCP) for enhanced civilian protection in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Unarmed civilian protection through collective impact: Learning from the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace (JSCP) for enhanced civilian protection in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, 2 - Building local protection infrastructures, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The research involves learning from a collective impact initiative for unarmed civilian protection launched in 2017, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Using quantitative and qualitative research on local violence reporting from newspaper archives; focus group discussions, and a non-linear video documentary with the members of the Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace (JSCP) network, this project will contribute new theoretical and empirical insights on enhancing civilian protection through unarmed collective action in the area of community security. Prominently, the research includes partner organisations and collaborators in Nigeria to promote grassroots advocacy, capacity building; and knowledge dissemination around unarmed civilian protection (UCP) in Maiduguri, Borno state, where civilians have witnessed both state and non-state directed violence due to the Boko Haram insurgency. A growing normalisation in state-insurgent relations since 2015 has created the opportunity to build the self-protection capacities of local communities. Towards this end, the novelty of the project is three-fold. First it will encourage inter-regional learning of the collective impact model in UCP. Second, it will build the capacity of the people at the grassroots, and those in positions of local power and influence through workshops, mobile video projection and community discussions around UCP in Maiduguri, Borno state. Third, it will develop the local capacity in Maiduguri to arrest conflict escalation and mitigate both state and non-state armed violence directed against civilians, through unarmed community security initiatives. Research Team: Sukanya Podder, King's College London, UK (principal investigator); Pwakim Jacob Choji, Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse, Jos, Nigeria (co-investigator); Allamin Foundation for Peace & Development, Nigeria (project partner). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Understanding Community-level Spontaneous Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP): A Comparative Study of Initiatives in South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia |
| Organisation | University of Winchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Understanding Community-level Spontaneous Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP): A Comparative Study of Initiatives in South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Large Grants Call (projects up to £100,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Understanding Community-level Spontaneous Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP): A Comparative Study of Initiatives in South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities (primary focus). In recent years important research has explored how civilians engage in unarmed civilian protection (UCP) to protect other civilians from armed violence. Yet existing research has focused almost exclusively on UCP initiatives that are advanced by international non-government organisations (INGOs) that specialise in UCP. The project explores a less known aspect of UCP, spontaneous UCP, referring to community-level UCP initiatives by local actors that are carried out 'spontaneously' in response to local conditions without any pre-emptive support from specialist INGOs. More specifically, the team seeks to understand the nature and character of local nonviolent actors engaging in spontaneous UCP; how the contexts shape, support and constrain spontaneous UCP activities; the evolution relationships, networks and coalitions these local actors form in order to protect others; exploring these factors across Myanmar, Colombia and South Sudan. The project design is fully participatory, with researchers from the Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace (CRRP) at the University of Winchester working closely with in-country co-investigators (Co-Is) in Myanmar, Colombia and South Sudan. The team will conduct semi-structured interviews and focus groups to collect new data on spontaneous UCP. The project offers important contributions to the emerging UCP literature by moving beyond the current focus on INGO led UCP initiatives, to provide new understandings about spontaneous UCP, and by offering a comparative analysis of spontaneous UCP across three cases of three different continents. Research Team: The project team consists of researchers from the Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace (CRRP), which will be working closely with researchers from in-country Co-investigators; Organisation for Nonviolence and Development (ONAD) in South Sudan, Religions for Peace Myanmar (RfP-M) and Rodeemos el Diálogo - Embrace Dialogue (ReD) in Colombia. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Understanding the Changing Strategy and Practice of Civilian Protection under the Military Junta: A case study of Kachin and Northern Shan, Myanmar |
| Organisation | Nonviolent Peaceforce |
| Department | Nonviolent Peaceforce, Myanmar |
| Country | Myanmar |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | "Understanding the Changing Strategy and Practice of Civilian Protection under the Military Junta: A case study of Kachin and Northern Shan, Myanmar" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Understanding the Changing Strategy and Practice of Civilian Protection under the Military Junta: A case study of Kachin and Northern Shan, Myanmar" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic area 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict. This research studies the changing unarmed civilian protection (UCP) strategy and practice in Myanmar during and after the military coup of 2021. As a response to the coup, armed conflict and other forms of security tensions in Myanmar have drastically increased, which has changed and intensified forms of harm and vulnerability faced by civilians. The project studies whether and how community strategies providing (self-) protection to each other have adapted to this new situation. Qualitative research will be conducted in Kachin and Northern Shan states of Myanmar; the escalation of armed conflict in these case studies is representative of other areas of Myanmar too, and findings will be useful across different areas and communities. The research will provide reflective lessons learned for UCP strategy and practice during and after the coup situation and under the military junta. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Using multimedia approaches to increase visibility of and preference for Unarmed Civilian Protection approaches |
| Organisation | African Woman and Child Feature Service |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | "Using multimedia approaches to increase visibility of and preference for Unarmed Civilian Protection approaches" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Using multimedia approaches to increase visibility of and preference for Unarmed Civilian Protection approaches" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic area 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict. This project will increase the understanding, visibility, preference for, and advocacy on the application of various research findings and good practices around unarmed civilian protection (UCP) in the management of conflict by state and non-state actors. To do so, it uses strategic media platforms and engages with practitioners, media houses, and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Kenya in advancing the importance of UCP. |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection: Investigating local vernaculars of community adaptations to insecurity |
| Organisation | Coventry University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection: Investigating local vernaculars of community adaptations to insecurity" is a research project funded by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 Small Grants Call (projects up to £30,000 GBP). |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection: Investigating local vernaculars of community adaptations to insecurity" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. Using three field research sites in South Sudan, this research investigates Early Warning as understood, communicated and interpreted by local communities. Early Warning is a fundamental aspect of Civilian Protection in response to threats from types of violence (political, criminal and cattle raiding) perpetrated by both state and non-state groups. Steered by two South Sudanese field researchers with excellent peacebuilding and humanitarian networks, the project engages a semiotic approach to investigate symbols and signs in Early Warning messaging, and how these are diffused, amplified and received in areas of low literacy where communication is mostly non-textual and sometimes non-verbal. This methodology also provides a suitable bridge for local perceptions and understandings to inform legal, training and policy frameworks using our existing networks. This research builds on the PI's previous South Sudan fieldwork, and his research projects exploring local Early Warning and protection mechanisms to strengthen accessing and acting on such information. The research is based on the premise that although multiple international frameworks exist, there are religious, cultural and tribal practices and perspectives which are highly relevant, organically produced and actionable. However, they have few formal links to policy statements and conventions, and remain under-studied. Research Team: Chas Morrison, Coventry University, UK (principal investigator); Diria Vicky Thomas, Community Aid for Relief and Development, South Sudan (co-investigator); Haji Elias Hillary, Lomore Development Organization, South Sudan (co-investigator). |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1) |
| Organisation | Pontifical Bolivarian University |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1)" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1)" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The project studies socio-environmental conflicts, understood as those arising from the contradiction between antagonistic forms of appropriation, productive management, distribution and significance of nature. The research focuses on water as the structuring axis of hydro-social relations and on the conflicts that arise over its control and use. It seeks to document the environmental conflicts related to concession processes for hydroelectric projects on the rivers La Paloma, Santo Domingo and Dormilón, with emphasis on three municipalities in Eastern Antioquia (Colombia) - Argelia, San Francisco and San Luis - in order to recognise both the particular forms of violation and their actors, as well as the self-protection strategies deployed by the inhabitants and organizations. Project team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Hernán Dario Pineda Gómez, Universidad de Antioquia; Mateo Valderrama, Asociación Campesina de Antioquia - ACA; Juan David Arias, Grupo De investigación Territorio, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Jessica Restrepo, Grupo De investigación Territorio Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; and Vanessa Vasco Vargas, Corporación Jurídica Libertad. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1) |
| Organisation | University of Antioquia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1)" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2021 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 1)" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. The project studies socio-environmental conflicts, understood as those arising from the contradiction between antagonistic forms of appropriation, productive management, distribution and significance of nature. The research focuses on water as the structuring axis of hydro-social relations and on the conflicts that arise over its control and use. It seeks to document the environmental conflicts related to concession processes for hydroelectric projects on the rivers La Paloma, Santo Domingo and Dormilón, with emphasis on three municipalities in Eastern Antioquia (Colombia) - Argelia, San Francisco and San Luis - in order to recognise both the particular forms of violation and their actors, as well as the self-protection strategies deployed by the inhabitants and organizations. Project team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Hernán Dario Pineda Gómez, Universidad de Antioquia; Mateo Valderrama, Asociación Campesina de Antioquia - ACA; Juan David Arias, Grupo De investigación Territorio, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Jessica Restrepo, Grupo De investigación Territorio Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; and Vanessa Vasco Vargas, Corporación Jurídica Libertad. |
| Impact | Forthcoming |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2) |
| Organisation | Pontifical Bolivarian University |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2)" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 phase 2 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2)" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. Water is currently a structuring axis of hydro-social relations and the conflicts that arise over its control and use in Colombia. The first phase of this project explored conflicts related to concession processes for hydroelectric projects in the rivers La Paloma, Santo Domingo and Dormilón in municipalities of Argelia, San Francisco and San Luis in the Oriente Antioqueño region. Preliminary results showed associated problems such as mass tourism, real-estate pressure and mining, which add further threats emanating from the privatisation of water and which also depend on energy production. These new forms of river use and privatisation have been introduced in an insidious manner, without recognition of the damage they are causing to the communities and social actors involved. These forms of intervention, promoted by public policy, project an image of an "empty space" or one that is adaptable to new uses in the regions concerned, which intensifies the degree of vulnerability of the populations who live their, as it does not recognise their pre-existence and their territorial dynamics. In the second phase, this project intends to delve deeper into these combined threats, to explore the scope of self-protection in the face of a conflict of growing water privatisation. The team also aims to explore the contributions of these self-protection strategies to reflections on just transitions, in a context of debate over energy alternatives and the revision of polluting, undemocratic development models. Research team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Hernán Dario Pineda Gómez, Universidad de Antioquia; Mateo Valderrama, Asociación Campesina de Antioquia - ACA; Juan David Arias, Grupo De investigación Territorio, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Jessica Restrepo, Grupo De investigación Territorio Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Denisse Roca, solidary consultant, CLACSO group on Political Ecologies of the South Abya-Yala |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2) |
| Organisation | University of Antioquia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2)" is financed by the N+ Creating Safer Space under its 2022 phase 2 work package call for collaborating universities and core partner organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection: A multi-case study in Eastern Antioquia, Colombia (phase 2)" contributes to N+ Creating Safer Space thematic areas 1 - Understanding vulnerability to physical harm in violent conflict, and 3 - Developing civilian protection capabilities. Water is currently a structuring axis of hydro-social relations and the conflicts that arise over its control and use in Colombia. The first phase of this project explored conflicts related to concession processes for hydroelectric projects in the rivers La Paloma, Santo Domingo and Dormilón in municipalities of Argelia, San Francisco and San Luis in the Oriente Antioqueño region. Preliminary results showed associated problems such as mass tourism, real-estate pressure and mining, which add further threats emanating from the privatisation of water and which also depend on energy production. These new forms of river use and privatisation have been introduced in an insidious manner, without recognition of the damage they are causing to the communities and social actors involved. These forms of intervention, promoted by public policy, project an image of an "empty space" or one that is adaptable to new uses in the regions concerned, which intensifies the degree of vulnerability of the populations who live their, as it does not recognise their pre-existence and their territorial dynamics. In the second phase, this project intends to delve deeper into these combined threats, to explore the scope of self-protection in the face of a conflict of growing water privatisation. The team also aims to explore the contributions of these self-protection strategies to reflections on just transitions, in a context of debate over energy alternatives and the revision of polluting, undemocratic development models. Research team: Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator); Hernán Dario Pineda Gómez, Universidad de Antioquia; Mateo Valderrama, Asociación Campesina de Antioquia - ACA; Juan David Arias, Grupo De investigación Territorio, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Jessica Restrepo, Grupo De investigación Territorio Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana; Denisse Roca, solidary consultant, CLACSO group on Political Ecologies of the South Abya-Yala |
| Impact | Forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | 3rd IGAD Scientific Conference on Migration and Displacement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | N+ Creating Safer Space co-investigator Rosemary Okello-Orlale, in partnership with media organisations in both print audio/tv and also community media in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan, presented on the impact of technology and media in messaging research in addressing migration and displacement for policy making and implementation. The participation in this multi-stakeholder conference resulted in new and/or strengthened connections and capacity development for over 25 organisations in Africa through quarterly meetings to reflect on how to best to strengthen academics, practitioners and policymakers working on/with civilian protection mechanisms or interested in exploring and adopting them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Africa Regional Research Café - Sudan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Amidst the escalation of violence in Sudan and the increased risks faced by civilians, African regional stakeholders held an online meeting, organised by network Co-I Rosemary Okello-Orlale and team (Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya), to look at and deliberate on the importance of UCP in the region and how it can be used by various stakeholders and also communities to strengthen civilian capacities against violence and conflicts. The meeting was attended by representatives from the African Region working within the Creating Safer Space Network. It considered civilian protection in the region and the existing gaps that need attention, particularly in the case of Sudan. It also showcased the work of Nonviolent Peaceforce in the region, and how NP have been working with communities in Sudan since 2021 to implement unarmed civilian protection strategies and continue to work with civilian protection actors across the state. Many issues were discussed in this workshop session, including: The active violence against civilians; Disruption to the access of essential goods; Displacement of civilians and restricted movement; Sexual violence and gender-based violence; Inter-communal violence; and Child protection. As a keynote speaker, Dr Felicity Gray presented the report Snapshot: Civilian Protection Needs and Responses in Sudan. She highlighted how the recent escalation of fighting in Sudan has introduced new and rapidly exacerbated existing civilian protection concerns. Issued that emerged during the meeting's discussion were: How to target UN and other peacekeepers with findings; how to adapt findings for their take-up by regional actors such as: AU, IGAD, ECOWAS; and how to adapt UCP at the community level and turn findings into actionable recommendations for armed peacekeepers. That the African Region section of Creating Safer Space: Strengthening Civilian Protection Amidst Violent Conflict should target the UN and other organisations involved in peacekeeping with findings from the research. The meeting suggested that CTPSR has useful links with UN PK training programmes, and this can enhance their work in the region. It was suggested that at national level, the stakeholders could engage umbrella organisations like Council of Churches (in South Sudan) and seek collaborations with communities to increase UCP and to feed back the on-going research on UCP. It was pointed out that conflict in the region has significant impact on food security and that any peace negotiation should also look into the interest of small-scale farmers and pastoral communities. The African Regional Network proposed to have UCP training for different audiences as a way of strengthening UCP in the region. It was suggested that we need to hear voices of communities that are making a difference for learning through radio networks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/africa-regional-research-cafe/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Cafe - Everyday Peace Indicators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this Cafe session, Prof Roger Mac Ginty introduced the Everyday Peace Indicators project and methodology, and cafe attendants discussed its uses for the study of unarmed civilian protection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/creating-safer-space-cafe/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Cafe - Unarmed civilian protection in Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This Research Cafe session focussed on the work of the Creating Safer Space network's Kenyan partner organisations, Peace Tree Network and Rural Women Peace Link, and on the need for unarmed civilian-to-civilian protection and existing self-protection mechanisms in Kenya. Topics discussed in this Cafe - election-related violence in the Rift Valley and police brutality at demonstrations - were picked up by two subsequent research work packages of the Network Plus Creating Safer Space. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-ucp-in-kenya/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Cafe - Unarmed civilian protection in Myanmar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This Café session was attended by c.20 persons and focussed on learning around the opportunities and challenges of unarmed civilian-to-civilian protection in Myanmar after the 2021 military coup. The theme of the workshop has been picked up for research in two of the Network's subsequent research work packages. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-ucp-in-myanmar/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Cafe - Unarmed civilian protection, civil resistance, and human rights defence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this Cafe session, Dr Christine Schweitzer presented findings of her study on the overlaps and differences between unarmed civilian protection, civil resistance, and human rights defence, highlighting areas for future collaboration between the three and outlining some worthwhile future research areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-ucp-civil-resistance-and-human-rights-defence/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Cafe - Using drawing as a research method to study unarmed civilian protection |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this interactive methods workshop, Prof Rachel Julian and Prof Berit Bliesemann de Guevara introduced the DrawingOut method and its use for the study of unarmed civilian protection and community self-protection, drawing on own research experiences in Myanmar. The workshop inspired some participants to introduce the method to their own work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-using-drawing-as-a-research-method/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Café - UCP in South Sudan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this Café session, Rosemary Okello-Orlale (Strathmore University, Kenya) introduced UCP in South Sudan, with contributions from the Creating Safer Space partner organisation Nonviolent Peaceforce. The discussion centred on the protection of women and young people in the context of the conflict in South Sudan. The session highlighted the effectiveness of Women Protection Teams in preventing sexual violence, and the effectiveness of Youth Protection Teams in preventing cycles of violence and retaliation amongst young people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Café - Unarmed civilian protection from violent conflict in the Philippines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Creating Safer Space Café is an online events series that brings together Co-Is, core partners, associated members and other individuals and organisations interested in this Network Plus to discuss questions around unarmed civilian protection and self-protection in the midst of violent conflict and displacement, and to acquire participatory, creative and digital research skills. This first Café session was attended by c.20 persons and sparked learning on conflict and nonviolent protection in one of the four core case countries of this N+. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/launch-of-n-research-cafe/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Exhibition - Nairobi, Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The exhibition was shown at Strathmore Business School from 24-26 January 2024. Visitors reported new insights into the agency of civilians amidst violent conflict and the power of nonviolent community self-protection strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/creating-safer-space-conference-in-africa/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Exhibition - UCP/A Community of Practice Gathering, Ferney-Voltaire (France) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A part of the exhibition was shown at the first international gathering of the Community of Practice of Unarmed Civilian protection/Accompaniment (UCP/A) in Ferney-Voltaire, France. It drew the attention of UCP?A practitioners to some lesser known conflicts and communities in need of protection, such as Papua (Indonesia) and the Anglophone conflict in Cameroon. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ucpacommunityofpractice.org |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Creating Safer Space Newsletter is a monthly news bulletin disseminating the research network's activities, outputs, and outcomes, and advertising upcoming opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/contact/ |
| Description | Creating Safer Space Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Creating Safer Space Website (https://creating-safer-space.com) is the research network's main channel for dissemination of project findings, outputs, and outcomes. It is drawn upon frequently by project teams and partners, the wider academic community, the community of practice of unarmed civilian protection and accompaniment, students, policy-makers and other audiences when drawing on the networks findings and materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com |
| Description | Creating Safer Space exhibition - Bangkok, Thailand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The exhibition was shown at the Social Innovation (SI) Hub at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok from 20 February to 1 March 2024. Exhibition visitors reported new ideas for their own work with civil society organisations, among others. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Final Regional Event for Africa and the Middle East, Nairobi (Kenya) 24-26 January 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The aim of the event was to bring researchers, practitioners, artists, journalists, and policymakers together to share unique research methodologies, research findings, and their implications for violence prevention, protection, and peacebuilding initiatives. From the many learnings about unarmed civilian protection (UCP) and community self-protection in Africa and the Middle East arising from the presentations and discussions, three overarching learnings stood out: 1) UCP is embedded in, and emerges from, traditional and cultural practices. Findings across different projects are thereby fundamentally challenging and changing the literature on "who does UCP" away from international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to local people. 2) UCP involves many more activities than had been acknowledged previously. This is because, in protecting people, communities start with what they have, be that signs and symbols, community media, or traditional mechanisms. 3) Early Warning is understood and carried out in most places at risk, but Early Response can be further developed so that the community can choose to de-escalate, use relationships, or other mechanisms. There is a need for better support for developing early response and strategic de-escalation. Other high-level themes arising from the discussions included, among others: That lots of communities and grass-roots organisations do UCP, without calling it such or having heard of nonviolent protection; The centrality of the collective and of solidarity in UCP/community self-protection; The important role of women and youth; The positive role the arts and artivism can play in UCP and community self-protection; The growing importance of online media in civilian protection; The role of UCP with regard to the looming threat of conflicts brought about or acerbated by climate change, which require early intervention to prevent them. The event brought together over 60 participants from at least eight countries. Distinguished speakers included Prof. Jacqueline McGlade (Professor at Strathmore University and University College London, formerly Chief Scientist of the UN Environment Programme and Executive Director of the European Environment Agency), Ambassador Frederic Gateretse-Ngoga (Ambassador of Burundi; Senior Advisor for the AU Border Program and Regional Security Mechanisms in the Office of the Commissioner for Political Affairs and Peace and Security of the African Union Commission), Dr Caesar Mwangi (Executive Dean of Strathmore University Business School), Ms Rosemary Kabaki (Nonviolent Peaceforce Head of Mission, South Sudan) and Dr Vincent Ogutu (Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University). Each of the 10 Creating Safer Space projects in Africa and the Middle East sent at least two representatives to the event, which involved detailed presentations and discussions on research findings and synergies between projects. The event also involved a Roundtable on Reporting on Civilian Protection. Speakers included Arthur Okwemba and Ruth Omukhango (African Women and Child Feature Service, Kenya), Philip Muhatia (Pamoja FM), Alex Chamwada (ChamsMedia) and Abjata Khalif (Journalist, Northeastern Kenya). They shared experiences of peace reporting in Kenya, through vernacular community media, especially local radio stations, the strong role of women in this alternative media reporting, and how it contributed to unarmed civilian protection and conflict prevention in different settings and situations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/creating-safer-space-conference-in-africa/ |
| Description | International Gathering - UCP/A Community of Practice - Fernay-Voltaire and Geneva |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 15 members of the Creating Safer Space network took actively part in an International Gathering of Unarmed Civilian Protection and Accompaniment Organisations, which was held in Ferney-Voltaire, France and Geneva, Switzerland from 9-11 October 2023. Organised by Nonviolent Peaceforce with input from a range of UCP/A stakeholders, this was "the first global gathering of UCP/A practitioners, their community partners, researchers and allies collaborating to advance the UCP/A Community of Practice by creating opportunities to grapple with shared issues, explore creative solutions, and build relationships with colleagues working around the world". N+ members - from the core network team, different project teams, and the advisory board - were involved in planning, implementing and facilitating the gathering, offered workshops on different UCP/A-related topics including decolonisation, learning and evaluation, looming threats, and peace processes, spoke about UCP and community self-protection research at a policy event for humanitarian organisations and UN member countries, and contributed to the gathering more widely by sharing their experiences and knowledges. Ellen Furnari, Creating Safer Space advisory board member, played an essential role in the research and planning process that led up to this Gathering. Ellen together with core N+ team members Nerve Macaspac, Rachel Julian and Roger Mac Ginty organised a workshop on "Learning What Works in UCP/A", while core team members Beatriz Arias López and Laura Jimenez were active in the "Decolonising UCP/A" process and workshop. South Sudan project team member Moses John contributed to the "Looming threats: Shaping challenges into strategies" plenary, and project PI Juan Mario Diaz led a workshop on "The Role of UCP/A in Contemporary Peace Processes". Project PI Enrique Chimonja Coy and Network PI Berit Bliesemann de Guevara contributed to a Policy Roundtable, co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of the Netherlands, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Sierra Leone to the United Nations and Nonviolent Peaceforce. Other N+ members participating in different roles in the Gathering included project team members from or working in Colombia, Myanmar, and Indonesia, and Palestine. The Gathering was co-facilitated by Berit Bliesemann de Guevara and Beatriz Arias López. The N+ team also organised a small preview of the Creating Safer Space exhibition, which involves creative outputs from our projects and will be shown in full in different locations around the world in 2024. Following on from this event, network PI Bliesemann de Guevara was invited to join the UCP/A Community of Practice Steering Board in 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/creating-safer-space-network-participates-in-geneva-ucp-gathering/ |
| Description | Podcast interviews on Peace Wanted podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Podcast interviews for the Peace Wanted podcast with PI and Co-I's about the benefit of Creating Safer Space to changing the way we think about de-escalation. Episodes available online and promoted amongst supporters and practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Presentation of the project "The Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia, Colombia" to the indigenous communities of Bajo Cauca, peasant organisations and the Impulse Committee of the Social Process of Garantees |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | 30 leaders of peasant organisations, ethnic authorities, indigenous guards of the Senú and Embera people of Bajo Cauca, and of the Committee for the Promotion of the Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia participated in meetings for the presentation and socialisation of the project. In this space, the objectives, methodology and expected results of the research were presented, as well as an analysis of the context and security for the participation of people conducted, from which emerged self-protection protocol guidelines for the safe participation of people. A meeting agenda was agreed for the activities scheduled for 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Project "Community Strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) in South-West Colombia" - Film Festival "Cine-Ando con mi gente", Cali (Colombia) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Creating Safer Space project "Community Strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) in South-West Colombia" the research team, under the leadership of Dr Natalia Campo, organised the 1st International Festival of Participatory Video and Community-based Cinema at the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) in the city of Cali, Colombia, between 15 and 16 Nov. The festival received 178 applications from 25 countries and its academic agenda included a series of in-person workshops on UCP strategies with community members from the three sites of the project: Buenaventura, Caldono and Lerma, as well as a conversation with network Co-I Prof Beatriz Arias about art-based strategies for UCP. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/colombia-project-organises-film-festival/ |
| Description | Project "'Ritualising' Protection in Conflict": Audio-visual training for the Nasa community of the Resguardo Indígena de Huellas Caloto |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project team organised and ran two sessions (one hybrid and one in person) in which eight attendants took part. Among these were three members of the communication team of the Resguardo, three members of the indigenous guard and two indigenous authorities. A third session on video-editing was run in hybrid form. As part of the training, the project team purchased audio-visual equipment that has been handed over to the community. This includes three smartphones with high-end integrated cameras, microphones, hearphones, tripods of different dimensions, external hard disks, and bags to carry this equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "'Ritualising' protection in conflict": Final Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This activity is an output of the Creating Safer Space project "'Ritualising' protection in conflict: A collaborative visual ethnography of the cultural and spiritual protection practices of the Nasa people in Colombia". A two-day final workshop was hosted in the Nasa cabildo of Huellas, Caloto, at the end of September. The workshop had two main objectives: (1) during the first day, we presented the main findings of the project to the Nasa indigenous community of Huellas Caloto with a view to gathering their feedback and any additional input. Roughly 25 people participated in the first day, including some indigenous authorities and elders; (2) during the second day, we presented a draft policy brief summarising the project's main findings and recommendations to the regional authorities involved in the design and delivery of protection schemes for the community. We invited the regional National Protection Unit, the regional Office of the Prosecutor, and the regional Ombudsman. Only a representative of the regional Ombudsman attended the meeting. We received the apologies and a message of the regional Office of the Prosecutor and no answer from the regional National Protection Unit. During both days, the Ritualising Protection Project Team facilitated the discussion with the community and between the community and the representative of the regional Ombudsman. The workshop outcomes can be summarised as follows: (1) additional inputs for the policy brief; (2) interest from the regional Ombudsman and the regional Office of the Prosecutor to co-sign the brief (currently under review); (3) agreement with the community to pursue further funding for a follow-up research/impact project on holistic strategies to counter the cooptation of indigenous youth by illegal economies and armed groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Art That Protects" - Premiere of the play "La Fiesta" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The play La Fiesta, written and directed by Oscar Zuluaga Uribe, was premiered on 17 May 2023 at the Theatre Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia. The play derives from the Creating Safer Space research project "Art That Protects", which explored contributions of artistic-cultural initiatives to the self-protection strategies of young people and women in the context of urban conflict in the city of Medellín. It was attended by c.600 persons, among them study participants from deprived neighbourhoods of the city of Medellin. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/the-network-was-invited-to-la-fiesta/ |
| Description | Project "Art That Protects" - The place of the arts in the creation of safe spaces |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was given to 15 people, mainly social leaders from different parts of Colombia, on the role of art in the creation of safe spaces. This was done in the framework of the closing of the project Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned, University of Sheffield and Universidad Autónoma de Occidente. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Art That Protects" - UCP/A Community of Practice Gathering, Ferney-Voltaire (France) and Geneva (Switzerland) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The importance of art in self-protection processes was presented to 60 people, including professionals and community members, all of them UCP practitioners, based on some of the findings of the Art that protects project in the city of Medellín. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ucpacommunityofpractice.org/meetings |
| Description | Project "Art That Protects": La Fiesta: Arts That Protects in mid-Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Four team members of the N+ project Art That Protects visited mid-Wales in October 2023. Project PI Beatriz Arias López and research assistant Laura Jimenez of the University of Antioquia were joined by project partners Adriana Diosa and Oscar Manuel Zuluaga of Harlequin and the Jugglers for an event at Aberystwyth University that showcased the work and findings of the project's first phase. In addition, Adriana and Oscar gave a theatre workshop for 3rd-year students of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies (TFTS) and contributed to a seminar on dance as a form of resistance in Colombia in the Department of History and Welsh History. They also presented the Art That Protects project at the Community Hwb in Machynlleth. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/art-that-protects-team-members-visited-mid-wales/ |
| Description | Project "Civilian (Self-) Protection from Violent Conflict in Papua": Training |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This activity is an outcome of the Creating Safer Space project "Civilian (Self-) Protection from Violent Conflict in Papua: Exploring Local Infrastructures and Initiatives". The project conducted three training workshops on Unarmed Civilians Protection and IDP's Profiling in two different cities on Papua Island: Jayapura of Papua Province and Sorong of West Papua Province. In Jayapura, the team conducted the first UCP training for university students, activists, and lawyers. 17 individuals participated in the training. The second training on IDP profiling was conducted in Sorong. The topic was selected because Sorong has been the destination of IDPs from neighbouring districts. The training was attended by 13 participants and was organized together with a local organization and one of the IDPs. The third training was conducted in Jayapura in collaboration with the Indonesian Catholic Church. The training was requested by one of the priests in Jakarta for their priests in mountainous areas, which have been armed conflict zones since 2018. Initially, the training was planned to be conducted in Wamena, one of armed conflict zones in Papua. However, because a group of priests was harmed by military force in the area, the training then was moved to Jayapura. The participant of the third training was a youth member of the Catholic church in Papua who often delivers assistance to IDPs and who works in conflict areas. The training sessions were aimed at raising local awareness and knowledge about the nonviolence approach to violent conflict and to advocate the civilian's need to a wider audience in a peaceful manner. Informal discussion followed every training session. It is too soon to know the impact of the training sessions, but the team found that the participants were eager to know more about unarmed civilian protection and IDP profiling, to build connections, and to communicate with conflicting parties to protect civilians from violent armed conflict. Some participants decided to gather in a group communication through Signal Apps. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Project "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia" - Festival of Participatory Video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The project team organised and delivered the 1st International Festival of Participatory Video and Community-based Cinema at the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) in the city of Cali, Colombia, in November. The festival received 178 applications from 25 countries and delivered an academic agenda, which included: - a forum attended by 45 students of UAO, where the project local researchers acted as panellists and shared lessons learnt during the project - a series of in-person workshops on graphic soties through which 20 community members from the three sites of the project: Buenaventura, Caldono and Lerma reflected on challenges and experience of UCP strategies - A seminar on the use of Art-based strategies for UCP, in which Prof Beatriz Elena Arias presented and discussed her work in Medellin. This seminar was addressed to researchers and students of UAO and counted with 40 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/colombia-project-organises-film-festival/ |
| Description | Project "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia" - Inter-community dialogues |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Two inter-community dialogues organised and delivered with the support of the Platform for Participatory Action Research in Colombia. The first one attended by 48 people took place at Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) in Cali from 10-12 May and the second, attended by 55 people, in the Fundación Universitaria de Popayán (FUP) in Popayán from 5-7 July. These dialogues permitted comparative analysis of risks, vulnerabilities, meanings and practices of community-based security and UCP across community (economic, cultural, ethnic) and spatial (urban-rural) divides. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia" - Memory event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The creation of 'semilleros' (research seedbeds), groups of approximately 10-15 young people, led by a locally-recruited RA, who have been trained in ethnographic, audiovisual and participatory research, was followed by an inter-semillero workshop on memory and archival research co-organised with our local partner CORMEPAZ in the city of Buenaventura during 27-30 March. During this 3-day workshop, 35 semillero members from the three sites in which we worked received training in participatory research techniques, visited local leaders and interacted with their archives. They also participated in an open event for 50 people with participation of students from local universities and the general public, where local researchers, acting as panellists, shared their experiences on PAR and memory work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women in Cali, Colombia" - Event and exhibition to disseminate research findings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 150 people attended this event to disseminate the results of the research, accompanied by a three-day experiential exhibition on UCP strategies by women victims of the armed conflict in Colombia. A discussion/forum was held in which the researchers talked about their research experience, shared findings and engaged in dialogue with the audience. It was also an opportunity for the attendees to express their points of view and provide feedback on the work carried out by Masterpeace Cali in order to enrich it, understanding learning as reflective and dynamic. The project PI and Co-I made an introduction about UCP, understanding that it is a new discipline of study that the participants were not familiar with. They then led the activity into a discussion with the audience in which several questions were asked about the fieldwork experience and the experience of the women participants in UCP strategies. The research assistant collected the audience's impressions for later analysis and technically supported the development of the activity with the use of audio recording and editing equipment. To support this activity, the team produced a power point presentation with the main findings of the research and a Google forms that attendees could access by scanning a QR code to collect their feedback on the research results. The event had media coverage: Caracol radio, ADN Cali newspaper and hechoencali.com. Results of the activity: It stimulated a greater interest in the UCP theme, which is evident in the high number of attendees at the event and in their opinions expressed in the Google forms that were shared with them. In addition, the team was invited to give a talk on the results of the research within the framework of the subject "Participation and Community Organisation" of the Bachelor's Degree in Popular Education at the Universidad del Valle. They also organised two forums held in November 2023 in the public libraries La Casona and El Poblado, to disseminate the results with the population of communes 13 and 14 of the District of Aguablanca in Cali; and an exhibition of the artistic sample that forms part of the transmedia product (together with the primer) at the Universidad del Valle in Buga, in February 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women in Cali, Colombia" - Event with women activists from grassroots organisations, Cali International Film Festival 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 90 women activists belonging to grassroots organisations in the city of Cali attended the event to present the results of the research, within the framework of the Cali 2023 International Film Festival. The attendees asked questions to the women who participated in the research, and a forum was held. Interest was shown by the women in attendance, who requested that the transmedia primer be shared with them and that the possibility of continuing to provide this type of space to share unarmed civilian protection (UCP) strategies that can be replicated in different territories be considered. The PI negotiated the inclusion of this presentation in the programming of the Cali International Film Festival 2023, given the magnitude of this event for the city and the country. The Co-I prepared the women participants so that they could actively participate in the space. The research assistants systematised the information provided by the attendees, which will serve the analytical memory that will be built and shared next year. To support this activity, the team built a Google form that was shared with the assistants. The event had media coverage: Telepacífico regional channel and Radiónica. Results: there was a clear interest in UCP research among the participants, who expressed their willingness to adopt and adapt the UCP strategies that were researched to their community environments. For this, the Carvajal Foundation supported the team with the printing of 100 booklets to be distributed in public libraries in segregated neighbourhoods in Cali, so that they could be consulted by users, who are involved in activist processes in their communities. This also opened the door so that activists can contact the project team for future feedback on UCP in their territories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women in Cali, Colombia": Dissemination of publication |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This activity involves the dissemination of research results from a project led by Masterpeace Cali, "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women in Cali, Colombia". The research results have been published as a 48 page booklet, entitled "Enhancing civil protection skills in women victims of the armed conflict through popular communication and community legal empowerment" (see 'Publications'). This was published on their own website, but it was also disseminated via the website of Ibero-American journalists focused on human rights issues "Human Forum", through which it was downloaded 300 times, and on the CAN (Community Arts Network) website, through which it was downloaded 500 times. Hechoencali.com commented on the research in its podcast, which reached 300 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women, Cali, Colombia": Journalism students from the Antonio José Camacho University visit the Masterpeace Cali office |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 60 journalism students visited the project lead organisation Masterpeace Cali to participate in an experimental practical workshop on popular communication exercises for the development of civilian self-protection capacities. The young people adapted the forum theatre methodology to make a radio programme in which questions and debates on the topic in question were raised. The Faculty of Social Communication of the University informed the project team that this activity encouraged interest in this field of research, and the project team were asked to carry out further workshops with other groups of students. The principal investigator and the co-investigator gave an introduction to the workshop topics and guided the activity. Research assistants conducted participant observation exercises and technically supported the development of the workshop with the use of audio recording and editing equipment. To support this activity, the project team produced a technical sheet for the workshop and a guide with information related to the topics addressed. Then they co-created together with the participants a radio programme with the forum theatre methodology (radio theatre) that will be part of the final transmedia product of the research. Results: a greater interest in the research was stimulated, which is evident in the enthusiasm generated by the activity in other university students who wish to participate in similar workshops on this topic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women, Cali, Colombia": Research Dissemination Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of the event was to share the results of a research project led by Masterpeace Cali on UCP strategies for women victims of the armed conflict in Colombia. A discussion/forum was held in which the researchers talked about their research experience, shared conclusions and spoke with the audience. It was also an opportunity for attendees to express their points of view and to provide feedback in order to enrich the research. 150 people attended the event, and it attracted media coverage from Caracol radio, ADN Cali newspaper and Hechoencali.com. The event generated greater interest in UCP, which was evident in the active participation of those attending the event and in their opinions as recorded on a Google form that they had been invited to complete. The event also led to the research team being invited to give a talk about the results of the research for students on a "Participation and community organization" course, which is part of the Popular Education Degree at the Universidad del Valle. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women, Cali, Colombia": Research Dissemination Event at Film Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This research dissemination event shared the results of the project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women, Cali, Colombia", led by Masterpeace Cali. The event was held as part of the Cali International Film Festival 2023. The research team, together with some of the research participants, presented the results of the research. 90 female activists belonging to grassroots organizations in the city of Cali attended the event. The attendees reported an interest in the research, and asked the research team to continue to enable this type of space to share strategies in Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) that can be replicated in different territories. The attendees requested that the booklet outlining the results of the research be shared with them. The event was covered by the regional Telepacific channel and Radionica. The event resulted in a growing interest in UCP, and attendees expressed their willingness to adopt and adapt the UCP strategies that the project had investigated into their own community environments. For this, the Carvajal Foundation supported the project with the printing of 100 booklets to distribute in the public libraries of the segregated neighborhoods of Cali, so that they can be consulted by users. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Development of civil protection capacities in displaced women, Cali, Colombia": event with grassroots organisation Semillero de Paz Llano Verde |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | 52 members of the grassroots organisation Semillero de Paz Llano Verde attended this research project event. This resulted in an awakening of awareness on the part of the attendees about their roles within the community, which led to a discussion about the levels of community cohesion they have achieved in the defence of their territory. 30 women from the Semillero gave their informed consent to participate in the research. To support this activity, the project team produced a video, a PowerPoint presentation and informed consent forms. They had coverage from the community radio station "Oriente Estéreo" which operates in the east of the city of Cali and reaches the most segregated areas. Results of the activity: a greater interest in the research was stimulated, as evidenced by the informed consent given by 30 women to participate and in the debate that the project generated in the community; also, the community radio station "Oriente Estéreo" committed to broadcasting some podcasts co-created with the women participants on the themes of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Project "Gender-Just Landscapes": Research Protocol Co-Creation Workshop for Gender Just Landscapes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The workshop was held online over a series of four meetings to collaboratively develop the research design through exchange of ideas, concepts, literature and experiences among the interdisplinary research team. It provides a new framework (to be implemented in research) to understand the linkages between gender based violence, climate and environmental change and conflict, along with community responses that will identify possible synergies with Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) principles and methods. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Project "Gender-just landscapes" - Sixth UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Leaders' Forum, Quito, Ecuador, 28-30 November 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | "Presentation of findings at the Sixth UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Leaders' Forum on the theme "Strategic Foresight and Issues on the Horizon" in Quito, Ecuador from 28-30 November 2023, and associated meetings taking place in Ecuador, organised by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Delivered a speech about GBV linked to environmental and climatic change, citing the Gender Just Landscapes initial findings from Colombia, Nigeria and Philippines. The audience is estimated to be 100 people, mainly researchers and representatives from cities in the global south and north who convened on the subject of gender based violence. Outcomes are unknown at this time, but the team have requested a survey to follow up with attendees of the conference to see if and how they are addressing GBV linked to environmental and climatic change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Gender-just landscapes" - UN Women and FAO webinar series on "Breaking the silience: addressing sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence in agrifood systems" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Speaker at UNWomen and FAO webinar series on "Breaking the silience: addressing sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence in agrifood systems". The session brought together researchers, prevention specialists, government officials and activitist to explore the link between violence and food insecurity. The Gender Just Landscapes initial findings from Colombia, Nigeria and Philippines were highlighted to demonstrate the link of GBV with environmental change and conflict, which exacerbates food insecurity. Outcomes are unknown at this time, but the team have requested a survey to follow up with attendees of the conference to see if and how they are addressing GBV linked to environmental and climatic change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.fao.org/3/cc8474en/cc8474en.pdf |
| Description | Project "Gender-just landscapes": Website "Memoria Visual Desborde" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Website which describe the participatory research process using somatic processes and engagement with nature, to discuss issues of gender-based violence related to the flooding in Putumayo, Colombia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://desbordee.wordpress.com/ |
| Description | Project "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society": Panel discussion on Unarmed Civilian Protection in ASEAN at "Whiter ASEAN" seminar hosted by ASEAN Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The ASEAN Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University organized an international seminar to commemorate 55 years of ASEAN. The project team was asked to organise a panel discussion for the event on "Enhancing Unarmed Civilian Protection in ASEAN". The panelists were the project PI, project Co-I, the director of partner organization Nonviolent Peaceforce Asia and a guest from AICHR (ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights). The panel shared UCP experiences both in practice and research. The human right commissioner identified a possible entry point for UCP in ASEAN, namely humanitarian responses. The challenges of UCP in this region rest on the case of Myanmar where common strategies do not seem to work and the situation needs a better understanding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Project "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society": Public television broadcast program "You tell, We elaborate" on nonviolent approach to land dispute of the Urak Lawoi ethic group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Project co-investigator Mark Tamthai gave his comments on the on-going land conflict between the Urak Lawoi ethnic group (or sea gypsies) and a hotel investor on Lipe Island, southern Thailand. This collaboration with the news channel emerged after the Chulalongkorn University unarmed civilian protection (UCP) research team had visited the tv station to discuss how best to introduce UCP to the Thai public. It was suggested that an entry point is to touch on a concrete example rather than opening with the UCP concept. UCP was introduced in this TV program through the idea of nonviolence. This collaboration with the public TV program, which was broadcast nation-wide during the evening hours, opens an opportunity for further media engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=573053021329507 |
| Description | Project "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society": Radio interview by King Prachadhipok Institute Channel (Parliamentary Academy) on nonviolent coexistence in a multicultural society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This interview with project Co-I Mark Tamthai on the Parliament radio station was about the conflict between a community of sea gypsies on Lipe island and developers. In part of the interview, he suggested that to ensure that the protests would remain nonviolent it was important that the sea gypsies received protection from violent means of eviction, otherwise they might turn to other means of struggle. This protection could come in the form of unarmed civilian protection (UCP), he discussed, rather than to wait for the Thai authorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Mapping and Responding to Vulnerability through Nonviolent Collective Actions in Buenaventura, Colombia" - Meeting and workshops with the Escuela de Liderazgo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project team supported a communication workshop with the Escuela de Liderazgo (Leadership School). This workshop included leaders from Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities as well as diverse populations in the Valle del Cauca area. The workshop taught participants both communication as well as photography skills, which they can share with their local communities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Project "The Process of Social Guarantees in Antioquia, Colombia" - Dissemination of findings to national and regional state authorities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An event was held to present the results of the project to members of organisations involved in the Social Process of Guarantees (PSG) in Antioquia and to national and regional authorities responsible for the protection and guarantees of the work of social leaders and human rights defenders and indigenous authorities. On behalf of the PSG, 44 people from organisations of different subregions of Antioquia participated, including Bajo Cauca attended. On the part of the authorities, 29 officials from entities such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Attorney General's Office, the Ombudsman's Office, the Government of Antioquia, the Mayor's Office of Medellín, the National Police, the National Protection Unit, among others, took part. The objective of the event was to present the results and generate commitments for the protection of life and guarantees for the work of social leaders and human rights defenders and indigenous authorities of Bajo Cauca. The civil society represented in the PSG recognised the advances in self-protection that peasant organizations and indigenous communities implement to face the context of risk and humanitarian crisis. For their part, the state authorities recognise the serious, high-risk situation for social leaders and human rights defenders and indigenous authorities, but they are unable to truly make political commitments that provide protection and guarantees for the work of social leaders. The project team presented the project results, emphasising the territorial context and self-protection experiences, and presented the multimedia tool. Members of the participating peasant and indigenous organisations from Bajo Cauca intervened on the same issues and on the point of demands to the state authorities. Given this serious humanitarian situation, national and local authorities were asked to take concrete measures to protect the communities of Bajo Cauca in Antioquia and guarantee their fundamental rights. It was also emphasised that it is urgent and necessary to provide special attention to the victims of the conflict, to investigate and punish those responsible for human rights violations, and to implement public policies that promote the sustainable development of the region that take into account the peasant organisations and indigenous communities. Likewise, authorities were requested to implement regulations and build protection routes by the State. It was highlighted that there is an urgent need for a change in a collective protection model, which departs from the response of militarisation and instead recognises the experiences of communities and organisations, such as decree 660 of 2018 "Comprehensive Security and Protection Programme" for Communities and Organisations in the Territories. The only commitment authorities made was to strengthen the Territorial Guarantee Table. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/colombia-project-shares-research-findings/ |
| Description | Project "The Social Process of Guarantees of Antioquia, Colombia": Experience Exchange Meeting with indigenous and peasant organizations of Bajo Cauca |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | On 10-11 February 2023, the Antioquia Social Process of Guarantees held an Experience Exchange Meeting with indigenous and peasant organizations of Bajo Cauca. The meeting served to share organizational experiences and balances related to self-protection and protection in contexts of violence which have been escalating in the Bajo Cauca region for several years. The meeting was attended by indigenous guards and ethnic authorities from the Embera and Senú ethnic groups of Cáceres and El Bagre, as well as peasant leaders from three peasant organizations - Peasant Association of Bajo Cauca (ASOCBAC), Association of Agroecological Brotherhoods of Guamocó (AHEREMIGUA), and Association of Environmental Victims of Puerto Clavel (ASOVIAMCLA) - and delegates from the Social Process of Guarantees. A total of 20 people attended the two-day meeting and shared the self-protection strategies that they have been building for years to face the context of violence as well as the legal and illegal armed groups that are present in the territories where they live. The attendants embarked on a reflection of lessons learnt in years of struggle for peace and defence of human and territorial rights, highlighting the efficiency and risks which have arisen from the implementation of different self-protection strategies. The event closed with an evaluation of the implementation of the self-protection protocols of ethnic organizations and peasant communities, in order to establish the degree to which the strategies had been applied within the processes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://cjlibertad.org/proyecto-el-proceso-social-de-garantias-de-antioquia-colombia-una-experiencia... |
| Description | Project "Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection": Civil Society Roundtable to inform UNMISS Protection of Civilians Mandate in South Sudan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This activity is an outcome of the Creating Safer Space project "Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection: Investigating local vernaculars of community adaptations to insecurity". The Principal Investigator, Chas Morrison, represented the project and his institution, the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, at a civil society roundtable at the UN Headquarters in New York on 6 October 2023. This was a consultation of experts and practitioners on civilian protection, peacekeeping, and South Sudan to inform an impact assessment of the implementation of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Protection of Civilians mandate. A senior UN official, Mr. Tamrat Samuel is leading this independent impact assessment. Through resolution 2677 of 15 March 2023, the Security Council requested an independently-conducted impact assessment of the implementation by UNMISS of its Protection of Civilians (POC) mandate in South Sudan, "with a focus on the mission's POC strategy following the redesignation of several POC sites, troop and police mindset, whole of mission integration, and any obstacles to the mission being able to fulfil its mandate, including obstruction by host government or other forces." This civil society roundtable to inform the impact assessment was organised by Civilians in Conflict, Nonviolent Peaceforce and Pax. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project "Water conflicts, Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection": Contribution to Caribbean-Latin American Meeting for Climate Justice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Between 15 and 17 June 2023, member of the project "Water conflicts, Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection" participated in the Caribbean-Latin American Meeting for Climate Justice, organised by the Political Ecology and Water Justice Study Group of the Pontifical Bolivarian University (Medellín), the CLACSO Working Group on Political Ecologies from the South/Abya-Yala, the Hillside Movement (Medellín) and the Popular Training Institute (Medellín). These were days of exchange of knowledge on issues related to climate justice between members of civil organisations, academics, researchers, and social movement activists. The event was attended by some twenty-five civil society organisations dedicated to strategic litigation, national and international advocacy, popular education, and environmental and climate change activism from Colombia and Puerto Rico, as well as several study groups and academic groups from Colombia. The main objective of the conference was to create spaces for the exchange of knowledge and dialogue around the experiences, learning, and contributions made by rural and urban movements in the construction of ways to achieve climate justice through practices related to the defence of water, territory, the environment, and the protection of the environment in which we live. Two project members contributed. Firstly, Verónica Sánchez, peasant leader from the municipality of Argelia and member of the Social Movement for Life and the Defence of Territory - MOVETE, spoke about the way in which the communities of Eastern Antioquia have organised to defend water and peasant sovereignty in the face of the advance of small, medium, and large-scale hydroelectric projects. Secondly, Dubán Quinchía, researcher from the municipality of San Luis and member of Vigías del Río Dormilón (Watchmen of the Dormilon River), spoke about Vigías' experience of community organisation to stop the construction of a Small Hydroelectric Plant on the Dormilón river, as well as the work that the organisation has done with the Tierrap Collective to continue protecting the municipality's water sources through art and culture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/contribution-to-caribbean-latin-american-meeting-for-climate-justic... |
| Description | Project "Water conflicts, violations and forms of self-protection" - presentation of preliminary findings at event on Ethics, Collective Health and Environment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Findings from the Water Conflicts project were presented to 50 people, including professionals and students from the UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE LA PLATA (UNLP) and UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE RÍO NEGRO (UNRN), both in Argentina, with a special focus on self-protection, solastalgia and care in water conflicts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Café - Safeguarding in Practice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In this online event held in English and Spanish, members of Creating Safer Space project teams discussed the network's Safeguarding Policy and exchanged experiences of safeguarding challenges and practices in their respective projects and organisations. The aim of the session was to facilitate peer-learning and support. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Café - Strategies for Community Protection and Dealing with Election Violence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Participants in this online workshop, led by Mr Thiago Wolfer (Nonviolent Peaceforce South Sudan) and Prof Rachel Julian (Leeds Beckett University), discussed how UCP approaches that have been used to prevent violence in South Sudan could be adapted and implemented in dealing with election violence, looking at Kenya in particular and how it applies to other areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-strategies-for-community-protection-and-dealing-with-... |
| Description | Research Café - The Centrality of Relationships to Nonviolence and UCP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | At this online event held in English and Spanish, Dr Louise Ridden (Aberystwyth and Tampere universities) and Dr Felicity Gray (Nonviolent Peaceforce) presented their research on the Unarmed Civilian Protection in theory and in practice, and the similarities and differences they found in the work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-the-centrality-of-relationships-to-nonviolence-and-uc... |
| Description | Research Café - Top tips for publishing in academic journals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this online session held in English and Spanish, project PI Dr Sukanya Podder drew upon her experience as Deputy Editor of the academic journal Civil Wars to explain how the publishing process works, and to share some top tips for publishing in academic journals. This session was especially relevant to early career researchers, researchers working within practitioner organisations, and others new to publishing in academic journals. The session finished with an open discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-top-tips-for-publishing-in-academic-journals/ |
| Description | Research Café - Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thailand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In this online event, Prof Chantana Wungaeo and Prof Mark Tamthai discussed insights from their Creating Safer Space research project, "Introducing Unarmed Civilian Protection in Thai Society: Opportunities and Challenges". The team shared the aims of the project, their experiences of carrying out the project, and preliminary findings and anticipated outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-unarmed-civilian-protection-in-thailand/ |
| Description | Research Café - Using Textiles as a Research Method |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this methods workshop, Prof Beatriz Arias (University of Antioquia) provided an introduction to using textiles (embroidering, sewing, and other needlework) as a participatory and creative research method, drawing on research experiences in Colombia, and explored the benefits of using this method for research on Unarmed Civilian Protection. At least one of the projects financed through N+ Creating Safer Space funding planned to introduce textile-making into their methodology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-using-textiles-as-a-research-method/ |
| Description | Research Café - Writing a Successful Grant Application |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In this online session held in English and Spanish, Prof Berit Bliesemann de Guevara and Prof Beatriz Arias led a Panel Discussion on how to write a successful grant application. The Panel consisted of researchers who successfully applied for Creating Safer Space research grants in the network's previous funding competition. Juan Mario Díaz and Simon Rushton (University of Sheffield, UK) shared their experiences of writing a successful Large Grant application; while Astrid Torres Ramírez and Véronique Draily (Corporación Jurídica Libertad, Colombia) shared their experiences of writing a successful Small Grant application. The Panel was asked questions about how they developed their proposals, what challenges they faced, what advice they would give to others who apply for research grants, as well as questions from the audience. The Panel also shared their successful grant applications with the research café participants, to allow participants to learn more about what a successful grant application actually looks like. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-writing-a-successful-grant-application/ |
| Description | Research Café: -Visual Policy Briefs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this online session held in English and Spanish, Dr Kara Blackmore (LSE), PI on the Network+ Project "Strategies for Safety and Solidarity: Understanding Protection through Creativity in South Sudan and Colombia" shared her insights into designing and preparing visual policy briefs, as well as using arts-based methods to map UCP practices. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/research-cafe-visual-policy-briefs/ |
| Description | Top Tips on How to Write a Grant Application (in French) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | In this event, in collaboration between the N+ Creating Safer Space, Nonviolent Peaceforce and Institut Catholique de Paris, Dr Cécile Dubernet and Prof Rachel Julian led a French language session with top tips on how to write a grant application, followed by questions and discussion. The event aimed at improving the capacity of academic and non-academic organisations in the Global north and South to write successful bids, based on the N+ Creating Safer Space experience of commissioning research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/top-tips-on-how-to-write-a-grant-application/ |
| Description | Training Course on Unarmed Civilian Protection 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | C.25 participants from around the world participated in this training course, which offered an introduction to the objectives, principles, sources of guidance, and methods of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). The course was based on content developed by our partner organisation Nonviolent Peaceforce and facilitated Dr Ellen Furnari (USA) and Dr Thor Wagstrom (USA). At completion, participants were able to successfully describe the key principles, objectives, and sources of guidance for UCP; analyse a conflict and identify vulnerable populations; demonstrate an understanding of the methods of UCP and how they can be adapted and applied to a conflict situation; and identify key features of an effective UCP implementation plan and exit strategy, with a view toward maximizing the security both of UCP staff and local civilians. The course helped to broaden the community of people holding in-depth knowledge about UCP, grounded N+ project researchers in existing knowledge and practice, and at the same time provided interesting insights from around the world into existing local strategies of civilian protection, which can be integrated into future editions of the training materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/new-training-course-on-ucp/ |
| Description | Training Course on Unarmed Civilian Protection 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | C.28 participants from around the world, many of them linked to N+ Creating Safer Space research projects, participated in this training course, which offered an introduction to the objectives, principles, sources of guidance, and methods of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). The course was based on content developed by our partner organisation Nonviolent Peaceforce and facilitated Dr Ellen Furnari (USA) and Dr Thor Wagstrom (USA). At completion, participants were able to successfully describe the key principles, objectives, and sources of guidance for UCP; analyse a conflict and identify vulnerable populations; demonstrate an understanding of the methods of UCP and how they can be adapted and applied to a conflict situation; and identify key features of an effective UCP implementation plan and exit strategy, with a view toward maximizing the security both of UCP staff and local civilians. The course helped to broaden the community of people holding in-depth knowledge about UCP, grounded N+ project researchers in existing knowledge and practice, and at the same time provided interesting insights from around the world into existing local strategies of civilian protection, which can be integrated into future editions of the training materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/invitation-to-join-our-ucp-training-course/ |
| Description | UCP Research Forum on Asia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this second session of the UCP Research Forum on Asia, organised by the Creating Safer Space team at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, led by Co-I prof Chantana Wungeao, Arfiansyah (International Centre for Aceh and Indian Ocean Studies) and Delsy Ronnie (Nonviolent Peaceforce) shared experiences and insights from their research project, "Exploring Local Infrastructures and Initiatives for Civilian (Self) Protection in Papua amidst Violent Conflict". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/ucp-research-forum-on-asia/ |
| Description | UCP Research Forum on Asia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In this third session of the UCP Research Forum on Asia, organised by the Creating Safer Space team at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, led by Co-I Prof Chantana Wungeao, two projects team presented their work in progress: 1) "Understanding the Changing Strategy and Practice of Civilian Protection under the Military Junta: A case from Kachin and Northern Shan, Myanmar" by Nang Seng Raw (Nonviolent Peace Force Myanmar); and 2) "UCP in southern Thailand: Developing Civilian Protection Guidelines for Violence-prone Communities", by Fareeda Panjor (Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani, Thailand) and Anchana Heemmina (Director, Duayjai group). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/ucp-research-forum-on-asia-2/ |
| Description | Working group on Innovation in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Unarmed Civilian Protection/Accompaniment 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 1 December, Creating Safer Space held a first event on 'Innovation in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Unarmed Civilian Protection', chaired by Creating Safer Space advisory board member Dr Ellen Furnari. Participants discussed what is useful to evaluate in UCP monitoring, as well as the possibilities of participatory evaluations. Participants agreed to form a working group to continue to devise and implement innovative methods of monitoring and evaluation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/working-group-on-innovation-in-monitoring-evaluation-and-learning-a... |
| Description | Working group on Innovation in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Unarmed Civilian Protection/Accompaniment 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 24 January 2023, Creating Safer Space held a second meeting on 'Innovation in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Unarmed Civilian Protection', chaired by Creating Safer Space co-investigator Prof Roger Mac Ginty (Durham University). In the session, Dr Juan Mario Díaz (Sheffield University) presented his insights into Participatory Action Research; Juan Mario is also one of the Creating Safer Space project PIs. Participants agreed to continue the work of the working group and to work towards devising and implementing an innovative, participatory method of monitoring and evaluation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://creating-safer-space.com/second-meeting-of-the-working-group-on-innovation-in-monitoring-eva... |