INTEGRATED UNITED NATIONS APPROACHES TO PROTECTION DURING PEACEKEEPING TRANSITIONS: - Lessons Learned from MONUSCO

Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. [...] Today, CIVIC has a presence in conflicts and capitals throughout the world where it collaborates with civilians to bring their protection concerns directly to those in power, engages with armed actors to reduce the harm they cause to civilian populations, and advises governments, the United Nations and multinational bodies on how to make life-saving and lasting policy changes. [...] CIVIC’s strength is its proven approach and record of improving protection outcomes for civilians by working directly with conflict-affected communities and armed actors and by drawing on research for evidence-based policy engagement and advocacy with decision makers, practitioners and influential actors. [...] The perspectives of Congolese civilians must be at the forefront of any meaningful discussion of MONUSCO’s transition from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we are sincerely appreciative of the dozens of women and men who were willing to share their views with CIVIC. [...] Finally, we would like to thank the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for their significant support to the research and dialogue series informing this policy brief, as well as the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support to CIVIC UN Program research and policy engagement.