Putting Democratic Values at the Centre of International Assistance to Ukraine

Security sector reform in Ukraine has made significant progress in areas like the defence sector, while others remain a challenge. Germany should apply the standards of its interministerial strategy by focussing not only on financial and material assistance but also on the transfer of democratic values, human rights, and rule of law principles into Ukraine’s security sector.

Better Than You Think: UN Involvement in Local Peace Processes

In recent years, UN peacekeeping missions have increasingly engaged in mediating local conflicts – with demonstrated successes. UN member states such as Germany should strengthen such efforts by investing in the logistical capacities of UN missions and by using bilateral diplomatic channels in mission countries in support of the UN’s engagement with national-level stakeholders.

PeaceLab Podcast: Transitions from Peacekeeping to Peacebuilding

#RealityCheck 7: Tackling Violent Extremism In- and Outside Lebanese Prisons

In this #RealityCheck, Chantal Azzam at Search for Common Ground gives an insight into her work tackling violent extremism in Lebanese prisons. COVID-19 has fuelled existing challenges both inside the prison system and outside: with a large numbers of recently released detainees, external support should focus on post-custodial reintegration and rehabilitation.

On the Frontline: The Under-Told Story of Women in Extremist Movements

Governments should recognise and confront women’s growing engagement with extremist movements: to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, they must acknowledge the agency of women who choose to join such groups and differentiate between the various roles they play. Only then can drivers of radicalisation be addressed and recruitment efforts undermined

How Germany Can Contribute to a Better Representation of Women in Civilian CSDP Missions

When EU member states established the civilian CSDP Compact in November 2018, they committed to promoting a better representation of women in civilian CSDP missions. The percentage of women in these missions has since decreased. Germany should use its Presidency of the Council of the EU to generate political support among member states for the effective implementation of this commitment, including by means of setting targets for women’s representation and developing gender parity strategies at the EU and national levels.

Germany Should Acknowledge and Counter Violence Against Refugee Women at the EU’s Borders

For many refugee women, borders are spaces of violence and insecurity. Germany should acknowledge the risk of gender-based violence at EU borders in its new National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, address colonialism as a cause of migration, and recognize its resulting historical responsibility. The government should use the action plan as more than a foreign policy tool.

Girls, Peace and Security – The Key for Sustainable Change

The next German National Action Plan on the Women, Peace and Security agenda should put a strong emphasis on the needs and rights of girls and young women. The German government could invest more in their education, scale up investments in their meaningful inclusion in peacebuilding, and promote a systematic integration of a gender and child rights perspective into programming.

Statement on the COVID-19 Pandemic by the Advisory Board to the Federal Government for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding

In a statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on crisis prevention and peacebuilding, the Advisory Board to the Federal Government for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding identifies the pandemic as a threat multiplier. It also formulates recommendations for the German government on how it can respond to worsening inequalities and political repression.

Want to Implement the Women, Peace and Security Agenda? Engage With Civil Society!

Civil society plays an indispensable role for the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, yet the degree of its cooperation with governments strongly varies among countries. In its upcoming third National Action Plan, the German government should strengthen and better institutionalise the involvement of civil society, in particular from conflict-affected regions.

Warning About Conflicts and Pandemics: How to Get Heard by Decision-Makers

As is often the case with warnings about conflict, there was a costly lack of timely responses to early warnings about the COVID-19 pandemic. Such delays are not necessarily just the fault of decision-makers. Expert warners can also do better. To be heard, they need to understand the world of policymakers, take risks and spell out expected consequences and actionable recommendations.

Making Women’s Participation Meaningful: A Call for Flexible Funding and Political Space

Capacity building initiatives are insufficient to ensure women’s participation in formal peace processes. UN Women’s discussions with women peace actors and lessons from around the world show that to address the resistance to inclusivity, the new German National Action Plan should ensure long-term, flexible funding and create political space for women civil society organizations.

More Than Money: How to Address COVID-19 in Conflict Zones in Africa

Germany and other EU countries need to address COVID-19 in Africa’s conflict zones with more than just financial support. To approach the situation strategically, they must support regional response and local solutions, promote sustainable ceasefire negotiations, and continue to address underlying causes of conflict. To do this, fostering regional technology-based solutions is key.

Reform Is Never Easy: What the Women, Peace and Security Agenda Can Learn From Security Sector Governance

Many of the barriers to effective security sector governance also apply to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. In its new National Action Plan, Germany should draw from its approach to security sector reform and strengthen institutional oversight, commit to long-term funding, and put the goals of the WPS agenda at the centre of diplomatic dialogue.

#RealityCheck 4: Providing Support to Human Rights Defenders in Mexico

Stefania Grasso, Advocacy Officer at “Aluna,” explains how COVID-19 impacts the provision of psychosocial support to human rights defenders in Mexico. As the pandemic particularly threatens marginalized communities and people fighting for their rights, external actors should ensure financial stability for civil society organizations and continue monitoring human rights.

Developing Peace: Impulses for German and International Development Cooperation

Development cooperation is increasingly expected to contribute to the transformation of violent conflict. A new study shows: It’s not the knowledge about what is needed for development cooperation to contribute to peace that is missing. Rather, there is a lack of implementation – especially as regards the primacy of prevention and the question of policy coherence.

A Polish Perspective on Women, Peace and Security: No Progress Without Reproductive Rights

Reproductive rights in Poland are facing renewed attacks and old problems: a draft bill wants to tighten abortion regulation; doctors are denying care. Measures for fighting the backlash include pushing for comprehensive sex education, providing contraception, and integrating reproductive care into public health services. There will be no gender equality without reproductive rights.

It’s Not Just About Health: Four Lessons From Ebola for the COVID-19 Response in Conflict-Affected Countries

COVID-19 is not the first health crisis to hit conflict-affected countries: Germany can learn valuable lessons from Search for Common Ground’s response to Ebola epidemics. Berlin should support civil society in violence prevention and trust-building measures, provide adequate training for security actors, and ensure the meaningful inclusion of local communities.

#RealityCheck 1: Peacebuilding Efforts by Never Again Rwanda

In a new series on the PeaceLab blog, we publish brief interviews with peacebuilding practitioners about how COVID-19 has affected their work. In this first interview, Dr. Joseph Ryarasa Nkurunziza, Executive Director of the non-governmental organization “Never Again Rwanda” (NAR) describes their work, how they had to adapt to the pandemic and what kind of support is needed from external actors.

COVID-19 in Libya: Germany Should Engage, Not Retreat

Despite diplomatic efforts at the Berlin Conference, the security situation in Libya is deteriorating, providing ideal conditions for COVID-19 to spread unnoticed. Germany should revitalize dialogue formats established in Berlin to leverage technical support by all actors involved, and upgrade bilateral aid to support coordinated measures to contain the virus.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Transitional Elections and Peacebuilding

COVID-19 has delayed elections worldwide at an unprecedented rate, which will affect peacebuilding efforts. Germany should support national institutions in developing consultation mechanisms between electoral management bodies, public health authorities and other relevant actors and assist in crisis communication to create spaces for dialogue and to counter disinformation.