NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE
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Mission Statement
Nonviolent Peaceforce's mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.
About This Cause
Douce Namwezi, Head of Mission for Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) in Democratic Republic of Congo, recently put forth this question to those making mineral deals and international agreements " You’ve been chasing your dreams—but what about the dreams of others? What about the children who dream of finishing school? The woman who runs the small shop on the corner, hoping for a day without fear? In a world focused on individual success, how often do we pause to consider the dreams that live quietly in someone else’s life?" For Douce, as violence escalates and formal authorities collapse, she sees communities no longer waiting on outside actors for security. They are doing what they’ve always done—relying on each other—but with a renewed clarity: protection is something they must lead themselves. They are redefining what safety means, and who holds the responsibility for it. More often than not, the answer is: us. Community safety is not only possible, but already happening. This isn’t to say that people don’t need support. They do. What’s dangerous is assuming they are passive victims waiting to be saved. What they are asking for is support that strengthens their own protection mechanisms, not sidelines them. At NP, we recognize this. That’s why we don’t introduce security from the outside—we build on what already exists. Our work in Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) begins with listening: understanding how communities have already been keeping themselves safe, and asking how we can support them to do it more effectively and sustainably. *** Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) has worked in areas of conflict for over 22 years, using effective and proven strategies of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) to prevent and reduce violence and to give local communities space to build peace. NP has programs in 10 countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Iraq, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States. Our headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland, and both programming and administrative support take place out of our North Minneapolis office in Minnesota, US. Some examples of NP's use of Unarmed Civilian Protection methods include: Protective Accompaniment: In the Democratic Republic of Congo to reduce risks of sexual violence, men escort women in small groups to water sources and markets. Communities have also identified nearby islands and pygmy villages as temporary safe zones. Early Warning Early Response: When conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Early Warning Early Response committees formed, supported by NP. These groups conducted early threat detection, identified safe movement routes and secure gathering areas, built emergency supply reserves, and supported trained youth groups. This prepared communities to swiftly respond to emergencies while also integrating vulnerable people, including those with disabilities. Advocacy: In Ba'aj, Iraq, Parent-Teacher Associations only included fathers, leaving mothers unable to advocate for their daughters. The challenges that female students faced were often not recognized or addressed, leading to verbal abuse, physical violence, and street harassment. This mistreatment was leading to higher dropout rates for girls. Equipped with knowledge and skills from NP’s training on Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP), members of the Women Peace Team (WPT) recognized that changing this reality for their daughters would require taking agency. So, they came up with a groundbreaking solution by establishing Mothers-Teachers' meetings. Committed to true progress, members began visiting the school weekly to monitor agreed action points, support implementation, and address any new concerns raised by teachers or the school principal. As Layla*, a passionate Committee Member explains, “This committee is a big step. We will work closely with the school to support students and address any challenges they face." Her remarks capture the spirit of ownership and solidarity that now unites the community.