Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding

The Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding sector is one of DRC’s four core sectors of intervention. It seeks to contribute to the fields of disarmament and peacebuilding through a focus on the safety and security of the conflict- and displacement-affected populations at the center of DRC’s mandate.

Our work in Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding is guided by a bottom-up, rights-based approach, which emphasizes the right of conflict- and displacement-affected communities to safety and security.

Community-level activities include, but are not limited to:

  • reducing the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war
  • reducing the risks associated with the storage and circulation of weapons and munitions
  • mitigating and managing the tensions which lead to conflict
  • and improving transparency and accountability in the relationships between local communities and duty bearers, such as local security providers.

Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding at All Levels

While our work starts at the community level, it aims to influence change at all levels to increase the understanding of community-level issues and encourage engagement with them.

This in turn strengthens the formal and informal institutional environment, which influences people’s safety and security at a local, national, and regional level. 

​​​​​​​The joint efforts of the sector contribute to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16 promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive institutions and societies.

This is done by combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, removing the threats posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, and improving security governance to prevent and manage conflicts.

The programmatic activities support community-based peacebuilding and security and promote sustainability by providing information on peace and security at all levels of society.

The sector is relevant for the development of global policy not only within disarmament and peacebuilding, but also in the humanitarian-development-peace ‘Triple Nexus’.

Five Pillars of Mine Action

HDP’s mine action operations are based on the Ottawa Convention’s Five Pillars of Mine Action:

  1. Clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance
  2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
  3. Victim assistance
  4. Advocacy
  5. Stockpile destruction

Demining

The former Danish Demining Group becomes one of four core sectors in Danish Refugee Council

Read more about DRC's core sectors

Global Displacement Forecast Report 2026 Launch

Ukraine: Powering essential services in the frontline oblasts

Ukraine: Solar power improves energy supply at care facility in Mykolaiv Oblast

Llega a Colombia el chatbot ‘Sami’: una herramienta con inteligencia artificial para…

Anticipatory action reports, assessments, evaluations, etc.

Board of Directors: Minutes 2026

Rescue efforts urgently needed as hundreds of Rohingya refugees continue to struggle to…

Board of Directors: Minutes 2023

Board of Directors: Minutes 2024

Board of Directors: Minutes 2025

Contact us

Iraqi Water Week (14-22 March): Iraq’s water situation continues to deteriorate, with…

Private sector engagement

Youth empowerment

Digital innovation

The organisation

Ukraine: Dry and warm homes — improving living conditions for IDPs and vulnerable people

2026 ADAPT Report: Care relations under pressure

Protection reports: Mexico

Protection Monitoring Dash Board Mexico

FLS - Family Liaison Support Training Online

“A Teacher in a Tent”: Shadi’s Story from Jabalia

LOCAL - Lowering compliance burdens for local and national associations

ADIP - Afghan Safe Migration

Ukraine: Finding safety and support after injury

Press room

Udtalelse fra generalsekretær, Charlotte Slente, efter USA's permanente annullering af…

​DREAM: Digital Race for Employment and Mobility ​ in Tunisia

Ukraine: Overview of the legal updates

DiPS projects granted funding

AHEAD Model background info, forecast reports, etc.

Losing more than home

Anticipatory Action for Displacement at DRC - Annual Review 2025: Progress, Learning and…

Ukraine: Winter under pressure as cities struggle with energy shortages

How durable solutions are bringing water to Hajjah

Global Displacement Forecast

Ukraine: Vocational education grants aiding people find jobs and rebuild livelihoods

Microinsurance Initiative for Informal Workers in the Middle East

Burkina Faso: Prevention and Resilience for the Future of Titao

Security crisis: Danish Refugee Council responds to humanitarian emergency in Seytenga

Burkina Faso: Celebrating the capacity for resilience on World Refugee Day

Emergency response in Nigeria

Contending with an Insidious Threat: A Look Inside Mine Action Efforts in South Kordofan

More than half a million Afghans supported through Area-Based Approach for Development…

One year after the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive: learnings on…

DRC presence in southern Ukraine to reach newly accessible areas

Story from the field: "Interview with CCCM Officer deployed to Ukraine"

Restoring life in Zindajan

Executive committee: Minutes 2020

Executive committee: Minutes 2021

More content like this

news

International Mine Awareness Day: New study evidences the impact of humanitarian mine action on resilience, peace and development

news

Promoting Community Resilience through the Humanitarian, Basic Needs, and Conflict Sensitivity Nexus

document

Updated DRC Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding Sector Profile 2024

page

PARTOCA — Participatory Research Team on Community-Led Action

Read more about ...

Climate Conflict Emergency Humanitarian mine action Lebanon Occupied Palestinian territory Syria Ukraine Afghanistan Algeria Americas Asia Asylum Bangladesh Burkina Faso Cameroon Camp Central African Republic Chad Children Civil society engagement Colombia Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Diaspora Djibouti Drought East Africa Economic recovery Ethiopia EU Europe Health Innovation Iraq Jordan Kenya Legal aid Libya Localization Mali Mexico Middle East Migration Myanmar Niger Nigeria Peace Protection Safety Training Serbia Shelter Somalia South Caucasus South Sudan Sudan Tunisia Türkiye Uganda WASH West & North Africa Women Yemen