Peacebuilding is the set of initiatives by diverse actors, including civil society, to address the root causes of violence and protect civilians before, during, and after violent conflict.
For many years, U.S. nonprofit organizations have helped pave the way for peace by bringing fighting factions together and providing alternatives to violence as a means of redressing grievances. Unfortunately, the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (HLP) upheld the law defining prohibited “material support” of terrorism to include conflict prevention and resolution activities aimed at getting terrorist groups to lay down their arms.
This page contains information on Peacebuilding, as well as Countering Violent Extremism programs and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.
Featured Resources
Preventing Peace: How “Material Support” Laws Undermine Peacebuilding
A joint Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) and Charity & Security Network (C&SN) report, Preventing Peace: How "Material Support" Laws Undermine Peacebuilding, offers analysis and examples of the adverse impacts of “material support” laws on peacebuilding
The Invisible Impact of Violence
May 19, 2021 C&SN Director Paul Carroll writes for InkStick on the impact of Israel’s assault on Gaza on civil society programs, and on the ways in which these impacts are, in effect, an extension
UN Report Cites Need for Concrete Guidance, Action to Integrate Humanitarian and Human Rights Obligations Into Counterterrorism Measures
UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ni Aolain, wrote a new report (A/75/337) which is an unambiguous call for the UN and its
On International Day of Charity, A Call for Protecting Charities and Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
By Zach Theiler On Sept. 5, the International Day of Charity, launched in 2012 to honor Mother Teresa, it is time to recognize the importance of charities in alleviating suffering and promoting human security. Globally,
Civil Society Organizations Issue Joint-Statement at the 10th Anniversary of Holder vs. Humanitarian Law
On June 30, the Charity & Security Network issued a joint-statement with 22 civil society organizations calling for further legal protections to be provided to peacebuilders working around the world. The statement comes at the
Abstract: Global Fragility Act Implementation Report Issued by AfP
Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) and One Earth Future Foundation have released a 92-page final working paper providing a way forward for implementing the Global Fragility Act (GFA). Getting From Here to There: Successful Implementation of