The Issues
Improving community security
Community security is about putting people in the driving seat and helping them to improve their experiences of safety and security
Supporting inclusive political processes for peace
Sustainable peace is only possible when everybody feels that they have a stake and a say in the future
Developing the security and justice sectors
To be successful, efforts to develop security and justice must take into account the needs of local people
Understanding gender, peace and security
Conflict and insecurity affect women, men, boys and girls differently and this shapes the dynamics of every conflict
Controlling global arms transfers
Better control of global arms transfers is critical to prevent conflict and promote peace
Taking action on light weapons proliferation
Guns, rifles and automatic weapons are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide each year
Ensuring aid supports peace in conflict-affected states
International aid should help build sustainable peace – but too often it does not
Harnessing the peacebuilding potential of rising powers
The rise of new actors like China, India and Russia is having a major impact on the dynamics of conflict around the world
Promoting conflict-sensitive development
Aid inevitably creates ‘winners’ and ‘losers’, so sensitive approaches are needed to ensure it supports, not undermines, peace
Building global action to prevent violent conflict
How can the international community have a more positive impact on the prospects for peace?
VIOLENT CONFLICT is an ever-present threat in many parts of the world and is almost always about power and resources.
Who holds power and how they use it affects whether people feel included or excluded from their community and society, and whether they have access to jobs and basic services like security and justice, health and education.
These issues can be the cause of conflict, but also provide the building blocks of lasting peace. Providing security and justice for all is one of these building blocks. Without it, fear and anger are likely to develop, sparking and fuelling conflict. Aid can also have both a positive or negative effect on peace and security. Understanding the links between aid and conflict, and acting to make aid more effective and more sensitive to local contexts is key to avoid fuelling conflict and to help build peace.
Easy access to conventional weapons also fuels and prolongs violent conflict and insecurity around the world. Tightening access to these weapons can play a big part in reducing conflict. Lastly, poor governance is a common driver of conflict in most fragile and conflict-affected places. Ensuring people have a role and a voice in addressing the conflicts that affect them is a fundamental part of achieving sustainable and lasting peace.
This issues section of the site tries to explain current thinking on key conflict issues from inside and outside Saferworld, and provides relevant examples of Saferworld’s programme work. We use evidence and experience from our in-country programmes to make recommendations to international policy makers which leads to real changes on the ground.
You can read more about Saferworld’s strategy to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives.
