World: Strengthening Civilian Capacities to Protect Civilians

"**Unarmed strategies must be at the forefront of UN efforts to protect civilians."**

The UN High Level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations

This spring, learn about unarmed methods to protect civilians and prevent violence in the midst of war!

Nonviolent Peaceforce, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, is offering an online,facilitated course in unarmed civilian protection through Merrimack College.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recall the key principles and sources of guidance of UCP
• Illustrate UCP methods and required skills
• Summarize key steps to go through in preparation for entering a community
• Outline key actions to undertake while living in and exiting a community

Who should take this course?

The course is intended for leadership and staff of aid organizations working in conflict situations who are interested in strengthening their capacities to protect the people they serve, as well as their own staff. The course is also aimed at individuals and groups of people who are interested to take part in UCP activities in the field. The course also addresses a broader audience of civilian, military and police personnel working in conflict and post-conflict environments (as part of UN or non-UN operations) interested in gaining an appreciation of UCP principles, sources of guidance, methods and required skills.

UCP employs four main methods: Proactive engagement, monitoring, relationship building, and capacity development. These methods are used to prevent violence and reduce the impact of violence; to increase the safety and security of civilians threatened by violence; and to strengthen local peace infrastructures.

Register through Merrimack College:

http://www.merrimack.edu/academics/professional-studies/unarmed-civilian-protection/