Nonviolent Peaceforce

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a nonpartisan unarmed peacekeeping organisation that works to protect civilians and reduce violence in areas affected by armed conflict. In partnership with local groups, Nonviolent Peaceforce members aim to apply proven strategies to protect threatened individuals and communities, deter violence, and help create space for local civil society actors to build sustainable peace.

Mission

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an unarmed civilian peacekeeping force that is invited to work in conflict zones worldwide. NP's mandate is to develop, promote and implement unarmed civilian peacekeeping as a tool for reducing violence and protecting civilians in situations of violent conflict.

Based in Brussels, Nonviolent Peaceforce currently works in Philippines, Sri Lanka and Sudan, and previously worked in Guatemala.^{[citation needed]} In 2011, the organization expects to engage in Honduras and the South Caucasus. Among other activities, NP works with local groups to foster dialogue between parties in conflict, provide a proactive presence and safe spaces for civilians, and develop local capacity to prevent violence. Its staff includes veterans of conflict zones and experienced peacekeepers from around the world.^{[citation needed]}

History

NP was conceived by Mel Duncan and David Hartsough and other participants at the 1999 Hague Appeal for Peace and constituted in the 2002 Convening Event in Surajkund, India ^[1]. The goals and projects of the organisation have received endorsements from Nobel Laureates, peace activists, and communities of faith internationally. Following on Nonviolent Peaceforce's debut project in Sri Lanka, a second full deployment was launched on Mindanao island in the Philippines in April 2007.

In July 2007, NP entered into Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council [1].

In September 2007, NP and its executive director Mel Duncan received the International Pfeffer Prize for Peace [2].

In the second half of 2007, NP responded to a local request from human rights defenders and deployed a team to Guatemala during the elections period.

In April 2009, the International Governance Council of NP voted to send an exploratory mission to the South Caucasus region where the August War of 2008 led to further displacement of local populations, civilian casualties and difficult situations for peoples living along the “boundary lines” from a human rights and economic perspective.

On 17 December 2009, Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines (NPP) officially accepted the invitation extended by both the Government of the Republic Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panels on 9 December 2009. Both Peace Panels, in their joint statement, renewed the mandate of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), composed of Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, and Libya, and invited Nonviolent Peaceforce, International Committee of the Red Cross and Mindanao People’s Caucus as members of the newly established Civilian Protection Component (CPT). NPP is now an official custodian of certain responsibilities under the CPC of the IMT.

In May 2010, NP launched its initial deployment in Mundri, Sudan. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Sudan's generation-long North-South civil war in 2005 is at risk. The country continues to struggle under the war’s legacy of violence and rights violations, and the region remains highly susceptible to the threat of renewed bloodshed. With the 2011 referendum on the horizon, NP Sudan is building on its initial deployment in order to effectively address potential upcoming challenges.^{[citation needed]}

Member Network

Nonviolent Peaceforce brings together over 90 Member Organisations and many supporting organisations from five continents. These work within their constituencies and communities to enlist support and raise awareness about Nonviolent Peaceforce activities.

Sri Lanka

From its headquarters in the capital city of Colombo, NP's international peace teams continue to operate from three main field sites: Vavuniya in the North, and Valaichchenai and Batticaloa Town in the Eastern Province. In the aftermath of the May 2009 military victory of the Sri Lankan Security Forces over the separatist forces of the LTTE (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), the political and security situation in the North and East of the country is undergoing a transition toward a post-conflict environment. NP continues to support local peacemakers as they seek to build a sustainable peace at the community level and to improve the confidence, capacity, and human security situation for civilians who suffer the long-term consequences of living in the midst of armed conflict for almost three decades.^{[citation needed]}

Philippines

Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines officially launched its Civilian Peacekeeping project in the Mindanao region of the Philippines on May 2007 after initial rounds of thorough consultations and ground assessment with all the key stakeholders involved in the Mindanao Peace Processes. NP's close collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) continues to contribute to the strengthening of NPP relationships on the ground. NPP contributes directly and indirectly to the protection of civilians in its areas of operations, awareness raising on civilian protection issues, the establishment of Early Warning systems and Early Response programs, the launching of community based human rights workers program and organizes high level close door forums and meetings.

In Phase I of the project, NPP established its head office in Cotabato city with field offices in Maguindanao, Sulu and Basilan. Through Cotabato and Maguindano offices NPP covered selected areas of North Cotabato provinces. In the phase II of the project, launched on March 2009, NPP started operating on full time basis in the provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte and commenced the process of setting up its field offices. NPP also established a Liaison office in Manila in the month of March 2009.

NPP continues to work closely with various partner organisations and provide on the field human rights trainings through formal and informal means to more than 250 community based human rights workers.

NPP teams contributed directly and indirectly in evacuating trapped and injured civilians form the fire-fight areas in close coordination with the Armed Actors and partner Civil Society Organisations. NPP provided accompaniment to Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) who returned to their respective barangays and monitored as well as reported protections issues faced by IDPs and civilians living in close proximity to fire-fight areas.

NPP worked closely with the GRP and MILF Coordination Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and gave presentations on Civilian Peacekeeping to the joint technical working group of GRP MILF CCCH. NPP was accorded Observer status by the GRP and MILF CCCH in one of their JCMP (Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post) in Balanaken. NPP presence in that area before August 2008 directly contributed to prevent and reduce incidences of violence. On many occasions, NPP presence in the conflict-affected communities enhanced the confidence of communities to stay in their respective barangays during crisis times. Nonviolent Peaceforce is the only International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) that established field offices in the conflict zones and maintained international presence.

Since accepting to become an official actor in the CPC of the IMT, Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines is:

- Increasing its number of International Civilian Peacekeepers (ICPs) from 15 to 26;

- Deploying 45 International Civilian Protection Monitors (ICPMs) and 26 National Civilian Peacekeepers to 13 different locations throughout the Philippines;

- Opening 6 more field sites;

- Hiring a Policy Liaison Officer at the Manila Liaison office to engage various Secretaries, Cabinet Ministers, Generals and other higher level government officials; and

- Monitoring, verifying and reporting noncompliance by the Parties to their basic undertaking to protect civilians and civilian communities.

Guatemala Project

Nonviolent Peaceforce provided protective accompaniment to human rights defenders under threat in Guatemala during the elections in 2007. National elections were held in Guatemala on September 7 and November 9, 2007. NP provided a team of four accompaniers, including a Team Coordinator, from April 2007 up to February 2008. The other three accompaniers were volunteers who served on average for three months in Guatemala. This project is now closed.

Sudan

NP Sudan currently employs 19 staff members of whom 8 are internationals and 11 nationals and serves Greater Mundri in Western Equatoria

NP's main focus is protecting civilians and developing local capacity to mitigate and solve conflicts nonviolently as south Sudan transitions to becoming an independent country.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ International Convening Event from Peaceforce website

Further reading

• Mahony, L. & Eguren, L.E., 1997. Unarmed Bodyguards: International Accompaniment for the Protection of Human Rights, West Hartford, Conn: Kumarian Press.
• Moser-Puangsuwan, Y. & Weber, T., 2000. Nonviolent Intervention Across Borders, University of Hawaii Press.
• Schweitzer, C., 2001. Nonviolent Peaceforce Feasibility Study, St. Paul: Nonviolent Peaceforce.

External links

• Nonviolent Peaceforce International website
• Nonviolent Peaceforce Introductory Video
• Nonviolent Peaceforce Europe website
• Nonviolent Peaceforce- Work a Day for Peace Campaign
• Fight violence with nonviolence, Christian Science Monitor
• International aides protect Guatemala's human rights workers. SF Chronicle
• The challenge to violence, New Internationalist
• Flowers on the Razor Wire, New Internationalist
• Interview with David Hartsough, New Internationalist
• Greater Than the Tread of Mighty Armies: Nonviolent Peacekeeping, YES magazine
• Peaceworkers UK Peaceworkers UK organises trainings for potential peaceworkers, and is a member of the Nonviolent Peaceforce]
• The Nonviolent Peaceforce in Sri Lanka: methods and impact (September 2003-January 2006