Breaking the Cycle of Violence in Conflict Starts with Protecting Civilians Caught Within It

Blog, Op-Ed

When I talk to people about armed conflict today, I usually get one of two responses: “The fighting is so far away and has lasted so long that nothing can be done about it,” or “If only there were stronger military responses, all terrorist groups, like Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaida, would be defeated.”   Our experience talking with civilians, security forces, and other stakeholders in conflict zones around the world shows that reality is far more nuanced. Since its founding in 2003, CIVIC has witnessed modern conflict’s increasingly devastating –…

THE DECLARATION OF SHARED COMMITMENTS ON UN PEACEKEEPING: One Step Forward – or Twenty Years Back?

Blog, Op-Ed

  Almost two decades ago, following consecutive catastrophic peacekeeping failures in Rwanda and Srebrenica, world leaders turned the protection of civilians into a non-negotiable priority for UN peacekeepers. Recognizing that such failures undermined the entire enterprise of peacekeeping, in 1999, the UN Security Council began authorizing peacekeeping operations to protect civilians. In the years since,…

Five Reform Areas for Effective Peacekeeping Performance

Blog, Op-Ed

By: Alison Giffen United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres rightly prioritizes performance by including it as one of the five pillars of his Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) reform initiative. Peacekeeping operations are a principal tool, and one of the most expensive and visible ways, that the UN intervenes to prevent and mitigate conflict. Improving peacekeeping performance…

A Goal Worthy of Nigeria

Blog, Op-Ed

A Goal Worthy of Nigeria By: Fred Robarts Ahmed Musa has Nigeria’s full attention, following the exciting win over Iceland. But the World Cup is not the only field on which Nigeria has a chance to shine in 2018. While the Super Eagles take on the likes of Argentina and Croatia, there are Nigerian government…

Keep Hearts, Minds Open to Displaced

Blog, Op-Ed

Our City and State Should Take Pride in Being a Leader in the Resettlement of Refugees from Around the World By: Kate Raley “H-Town.” Houston. Home of the Astros, 2017 MLB World Champs. A city known for its barbecue, queso, world-class medical centers, oil tycoons, art and Beyoncé. There are many reasons for its 3…