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

Board of Directors: Minutes 2026

El padre colombiano que encontró esperanza en México

Farming Under Pressure. Challenges Facing Farmers in Syria

From Contamination to Recovery: The Critical Role of Humanitarian Mine Action in Syria

ADAPT Report 2026: Care relations under pressure

ASPIRE Annual Report 2026: Narrowing Horizons

ASPIRE Annual Report 2024: Seeking Solutions

ASPIRE Annual Report 2023: Endeavours for Peace

Where we work

Ukraine: "We had lost hope" — rebuilding a family home in Kharkiv Oblast

PARTOCA — Participatory Research Team on Community-Led Action

Kevin: huir, resistir y volver a empezar. Un joven salvadoreño que reconstruye su vida en…

New EU agreement on return: A punitive approach to return will not be safe and…

Ukraine: DRC's achievements in 2025

Finding relief through psychosocial support in Sudan

Bringing safe water to conflict-affected communities in Jonglei, South Sudan

Dansk Flygtningehjælp på Folkemødet 

International Women's Day: Yemeni women transform their futures

The impact of Multipurpose Cash Assistance on Yemen's displaced families

Multipurpose Cash Assistance: Helping women cope during conflict

Multipurpose Cash Assistance: Empowering families to overcome adversity in Yemen

Multipurpose Cash Assistance: Supporting the basic needs of families amidst Yemen's…

Multipurpose Cash Assistance: Empowering lives and building resilience in Yemen

Cash Consortium of Yemen: A lifeline amidst crisis

A mother’s strength: Surviving conflict and rebuilding hope

A small step forward: Hawa’s journey from displacement to hope

Restoring dignity: How cash assistance is rebuilding lives in Yemen

From displacement to hope: Zainab’s journey

Congo Cash Consortium: un partenariat au service de la localisation de l’aide humanitaire…

Ukraine: Major renovation of the Mykolaiv Lyceum — one building, two schools and an…

Ukraine: A new agricultural market opens in Rakove village to support local producers

PREVENIR CAPITALIZATION

RRM FRONTLINE FACTSHEET

Organizaciones humanitarias lanzan el Consorcio SHARP para responder a crisis en regiones…

Private foundations

LOCAL - Lowering compliance burdens for local and national associations

From ruins to rebuilding inclusive economic recovery in Aleppo

The organisation

Other DRC websites

Pathways to Protection

From the darkness of isolation to the light of hope

Nasra’s strength, our commemoration - This International Women’s Day!

Gender-Based Violence goes on in earthquake affected zones

Ukraine: Staying warm through winter in Kharkiv Oblast

Forced back and left behind: Conditions for urban returnees and the urgent need for local…

EU-funded humanitarian action by DRC and partners supports over 845,000 people across…

Protection of Civilians Week 2026: Strengthening protection of civilians in conflict

Manuel Alejandro Tique, trabajador humanitario del Consejo Danés para Refugiados, es…

Statement by the Danish Refugee Council on the continued detention of staff member in…

Statement by DRC on the arrest of a staff member in Venezuela

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 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 Middle East Migration Myanmar Niger Nigeria Peace Protection Safety training Serbia Shelter Somalia South Caucasus South Sudan Sudan Tunisia Türkiye Uganda Venezuela WASH West & North Africa Women Yemen