Civilian Protection and Violence Prevention with Local Communities in Conflict Areas

Civilian Protection and Violence Prevention with

Local Communities in Conflict Areas

A One-Day Course in Unarmed Civilian Protection for the UN Interagency Framework Team for Preventive Action

UN Quaker House, New York15 June 2011

Beginning the Journey Together

Objectives1. Representatives of the UN Interagency Framework Team for Preventative Action have awareness regarding the key concepts of UCP, what makes it work, and how it is practically implemented in areas of violent conflict.

2. Representatives gain appreciation for the field of UCP as a viable option for protecting civilians and reducing violence in areas of violent conflict.

3. Representatives reflect and discuss how UCP may apply to the work of their agencies in the field and/or how their agencies could support others involved directly in UCP work.

4. Representatives understand the potential role civil society can play in the protection of civilians and the prevention of violent conflict.

Agenda for the Day

TIME TITLE OF SESSION OBJECTIVE

9:00-10:45 The Basics and Principles of UCP

Participants understand the general nature of UCP, its major components, why it works, and the primary foundations it rests upon.

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-13:00 The Core of UCP WorkParticipants understand the proactive and reactive dimensions of UCP work, its core functions, and the key strategies it employs.

13:00-14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:00 Understanding How UCP Works in Practice

Participants understand the key activities of UCP and implement them in practice.

16:00-16:15 Break

16:15-17:30 Integrating Lessons Learned

Participants reflect on how UCP can be integrated into their own work and/or better supported in the work of others, and identify potential roads forward for continued collaboration.

Experiential Pedagogy

1. EXPERIENCE

2. REFLECT

3. CONTEXTUALISE

4. ACT

The Basics of Unarmed Civilian Protection

What it is and Why it Works

The Purpose of Unarmed Civilian Protection

What is Unarmed Civilian Protection?

Unarmed Civilian Protection is the organised, strategic use of various nonviolent tactics - by unarmed civilians themselves - to deter violence, influence important actors in their community, and create safe political space where people feel encouraged to transform their own conflicts constructively.

UCP is…

Not disorganised individuals showing up without a plan, thinking only their presence is enough.

Organised teams strategically implementing proven tactics for protecting civilians and reducing violence.

Not well-intentioned volunteers working against “oppressors” and naively sticking flowers in gun barrels.

Well-trained professionals working proactively with key stakeholders on all levels to increase security of all people

Not white people from the global North holding threatened peoples’ hands so they do not get shot.

Security-conscious international/multi-cultural teams working and living within communities affected by violence and supporting them to increase their own security.

Not an add-on to an already over-burdened work day or something done indirectly while passing out food.

A specific, focused activity, based on lessons learned and compelling practices

Unarmed Civilian Protection PROACTIVE

PRESENCE

Encouragement

Deterrence Influence

NonviolenceIndependence

Primacy of Internal

Conflict ActorsNonpartis

anship

Human Rights

Conf

iden

ce B

uild

ing

Conscious VisibilityProtection

Capacity Building

Multi-Level Diplomacy

Small Group Work

Nonviolence without Security is…

Security without Nonviolence is…

1. WHO WE AREUnderstanding of Mission and Key

Organisational Characteristics--e.g. The UCP Tree

5. HOW WE DO IT Process for Security Incidents and

Early Warning Reporting and Analysis

4. WHAT WE DONP Security Planning

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

&Contingency Planning

2. WHERE WE ARESecurity Contextual Analysis

&Security Situational Analysis

3. WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Security Strategies(AAAMAP)

GMS

Good Management System for Staff Security and Safety

UCP requires a higher threshold of risk and employs

Active/Interactive Security based on Relationships, not

Preventative Measures


PRESENCE

Encouragement



Primacy of Internal


anship

Human Rights

Conf

iden

ce B

uild

ing


Capacity Building


1. Understand that UCP’s are partial: (e.g. towards human rights, security of all people, peaceful resolution of conflicts, etc.). Cannot be afraid of the values and mission underlying the work.

2. Separate violent actions committed from the people who commit those actions (problems vs. people).

3. Work transparently (key stakeholders know what we are doing) while maintaining the confidentiality of those we serve.

4. Strive for ACCEPTANCE and strategic connection from all key stakeholders.

5. Adhere to the 3rd Principle of UCP: Primacy of Internal Conflict Actors (i.e. It’s not about what we want, it’s our job to create the space for internal actors to achieve what they want.)

Lesson Learned from Implementing Nonpartisanship in the Field


PRESENCE

Encouragement



Primacy of Internal


anship

Human Rights

Conf

iden

ce B

uild

ing


Capacity Building


Unarmed Civilian

ProtectionREACTIVE PROACTIVE

Dimensions of UCP

The Basics of Unarmed Civilian Protection

The Core of UCP & How it Works in Practice

What is Proactive Presence?

Proactive Presence = Trained field staff combining multiple strategies to positively influence the dynamics of violence against civilians on the ground. (Means PROACTIVE)

“What is needed…is not passive presence for its own sake, but well informed and carefully analysed strategies and tactics that use the presence of each [UCP] to influence all the actors around them.” -Liam Mahoney

MPT

The Functions of Proactive Presence

Proactive Presence


Encouragement

MPT

How Does Proactive Presence Work? DETERRENCE

Decision Makers (Worried about Int’l Image)

Perpetrators of Violence

(Worried about witnesses)

Targeted Civilians

Cha

in o

f Com

man

d

International Pressure

X

MPT





Targeted Civilians

Cha

in o

f Com

man

d


“It’s not really me.”

MPT





Targeted Civilians

Cha

in o

f Com

man

d


X

X

MPT

Defining Political Space

High Risk: Inaccessible Political Space

Acceptable Risk:

Accessible Political Space

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Inhibitions

Dangerous Risks

Line of Perception

How Does Proactive Presence Work? ENCOURAGEMENT

MPT


Increasing Political Space


Acceptable Risk:




InhibitionsDangerous Risks

Line of Perception

Effect of

Proactive

Presence

MPT


Increasing Political Space


Acceptable Risk:




Inhibitions

Dangerous Risks

Line of Perception

Effect of

Proactive

Presence

MPT

How Does Proactive Presence Work? Influence

MPT

Limits to Proactive Presence

1. Effectiveness is based on the acceptance of UCP’s from conflict actors.

2. Being present and being visible is the foundation of this technique, but does not provide protection in and of itself unless it is used strategically and, if acceptance fails, can be backed up by credible pressures.

3. Credible pressures must be based on careful research which identifies who is causing the threat and what kinds of pressure they may be susceptible to.

3. There must be real power and influence behind the pressure for it to be credible: i.e. political, economic, legal, religious, cultural or social pressure such as disrupting tourism, indictment by a court or tribunal, imposing economic sanctions, canceling contracts or investment or aid packages.

4. There must be direct lines of communication open to the perpetrators somewhere along their chain of command in order for pressure to be effectively applied.


PRESENCE

Encouragement



Primacy of Internal


anship

Human Rights

Conf

iden

ce B

uild

ing


Capacity Building


Key UCP Activities

Conscious Visibility

Multi-Level Diplom

acy

Prot

ectio

n

Conf

iden

ce B

uild

ing

Capa

city

Bui

ldin

g

Facilitation of Safe Access to Government Mechanisms

Forums/Meetings for State Duty-Bearers and

Vulnerable Communities

Safe Travel Routes for Civilians

Accompaniment/ Protective Presence for

Vulnerable Individuals / HRDs / Community

WorkersEstablishment and

monitoring of protocols with government and military

actors

Coordination of security services for vulnerable civilians

Community Conflict Early Warning Early

Response Systems

Collaborative security assessments,

consultations, and trainings

Support for Community

Security Teams

Community Conflict Resolution

Facilitation

Intentional presence during

critical times

Ceasefire Monitoring

Education

Civilian Protection and Violence Prevention with Local Communities in Conflict Areas