Peacebuilding is a core intervention for Norwegian Church Aid in upholding human dignity and in contributing to an environment conducive to sustainable long-term development. Community violence is often initiated by individuals or gangs who have criminal or political intentions. Direct attacks on civilian populations are common, including murder, abduction, rape and other forms of sexual violence.
The main victims of these conflicts are civilians, in particular women, children, young people and the elderly. The proliferation of small arms exacerbates violence at every level.
Our work
Norwegian Church Aid mobilises local communities to engage in peacebuilding work and to contribute to changing their own communities together with the more formal structures of government and the police whenever possible. We also working with local communities to address the causes fueling these conflicts.
Our goal is to encourage participation of local communities in addressing violent conflicts and taking steps to limit the proliferation of small arms. We place particular emphasis on the inclusion of women in all peacebuilding work, at all levels.
- Building local initiatives to rebuild cultures of peace and the capacity to build peace
- Building local initiatives for income generation and improved livelihood to reduce the attraction of armed gangs and militias
- Building local initiatives to address community violence and to reduce the demand for and the pro-liferation of small arms
- Working to expose the illegal trade in small arms
- Advocating for international control of small arms
Where we work
The following countries are included in the ‘Community violence and small arms control’ programme: Haiti, Brazil, Mali, DR Congo and Burundi.