Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding

The sector relates to two specialized fields: Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding. HDP covers the sub-sectors of Mine Action, Weapons and Ammunitions Management (WAM), Conflict Management and Security Governance.

The aim of the HDP sector is to contribute to the fields of disarmament and peacebuilding through a focus on the safety and security of communities affected by displacement and conflict.

DRC works to clear land contaminated by landmines and unexploded ammunition in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden areas and supports efforts to lower the risks from small arms and light weapons. We work to create awareness, restore trust, facilitate dialogue, and ensure collaboration that reduces tensions that may lead to violence. DRC’s support to communities threatened by conflict and its aftermath, including advocating for civilians’ rights in conflict, and against indiscriminate attacks and the proliferation of weaponry.

Our work is guided by a commitment to respect, protect and fulfil people’s right to life, safety, and security. Our focus is at community level, in reducing the threat of landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war, reducing the dangers associated with munitions and weapons storage and circulation, mitigating, and managing tensions leading to conflict

Weapons and Ammunitions Management

Weapons and Ammunitions Management oversees the safe handling and storage of stockpiled weapons and ammunitions. HDP teams promote the safe storage and handling of weapons, to mitigate risks and avoid potential accidents. HDP’s work with small arms and light weapons follows the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) guidelines on best practices.

Conflict Management

Conflict Management works with local stakeholders to increase stability and resilience in their communities. HDP’s goal is to manage and mitigate local and interpersonal conflicts before they escalate, always upholding the higher principle of ‘doing no harm’. This is achieved through the support of local conflict resolution efforts and the deployment of a comprehensive Conflict Management Education toolkit, which helps strengthen communities’ capacities to:

• identify and relieve tensions
• locate key factors in conflict
• employ successful mediation techniques

Security Governance

Security Governance aims to build trust and cooperation between communities and local security providers through programming to address stability, fragility, and resilience. We aim to foster a more inclusive security governance process by ensuring that women have a seat at the table and opportunity to engage in the security decisions affecting their communities.

Furthermore, HDP’s Community Safety Initiatives focus on fostering a wider culture of responsibility among the local populations. This is done by helping to build community safety plans that develop the local communities’ capacity to identify, address and manage their own safety needs.

Through the joint efforts of the sector in combating small arms and light weapons proliferation, removing the threats from landmines and other explosive ordnance, preventing, and managing conflicts and improving security governance, HDP contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 16 of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.