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’.
News about humanitarian mine action and peacebuildingView all news
11 Mar 2025
Burkina Faso: Prevention and Resilience for the Future of Titao
24 Feb 2025
After three years of war, funding shortfalls in Ukraine risk long-term impact on displaced communities
19 Feb 2025
Ukraine: Surviving the unseen threat — the lasting impact of landmines
13 Feb 2025
Ukraine: "Knowing our fields are safe changes everything" — critical role of non-technical surveys
25 Dec 2024
Khalid's Cooperation saves people's lives from risk of Landmine
26 Nov 2024
Ukraine: Clearing the path and restoring safety in the North
25 Nov 2024
DRC condemns the USA’s approval of transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine
25 Nov 2024
Press release: Killing long after they fall – the cost of active warfare and unexploded ordnance on civilians in Gaza
13 Nov 2024
Ukraine: Making war-affected territories safe again
14 Oct 2024
Ukraine: Providing vital humanitarian aid and life-saving explosive risk education near the frontline
Five Pillars of Mine Action
HDP’s mine action operations are based on the Ottawa Convention’s Five Pillars of Mine Action:
Clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
Victim assistance
Advocacy
Stockpile destruction
Demining
The former Danish Demining Group becomes one of five core sectors in Danish Refugee Council
We work with Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding in these countries