Unarmed Civilian Protection is
Our Approach
The Power of People, Protecting People
Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) is the practice of everyday people protecting other people in conflict—using encouragement and deterrence instead of violence and fear.
Where We Focus
Nonviolent Peaceforce brings deep expertise across the issues that shape civilian safety and security—from women’s protection to strengthening social cohesion and supporting inclusive peace processes. As conflict evolves, so do the risks, including weaponized drones and digital disinformation. Our work in Unarmed Civilian Protection adapts to meet communities where the threat is greatest.
Women, Peace & Security
NP advances Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) through direct physical protection alongside strategies like fostering alliances between women’s groups, training emerging women leaders, and supporting survivors of sexual violence. NP delivers programs across all four pillars of the WPS agenda.
Social Cohesion
NP builds social cohesion in conflict-affected communities through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) and long-term, on-the-ground presence—before, during, and after crises and humanitarian emergencies.
Protection of Children
NP protects children in conflict through direct physical protection combined with child protection strategies including family tracing and reunification, monitoring, and access to legal aid.
Protection in Humanitarian Emergencies
NP strengthens humanitarian protection by reducing risk for survivors of violence, expanding safe access to aid for at-risk and minority groups, and supporting local and international humanitarian actors to deliver assistance safely and with dignity.
Inclusive Ceasefires and Peace Processes
NP strengthens inclusive ceasefires and peace processes by centering civil society in ceasefire monitoring alongside Unarmed Civilian Protection methods—reducing the impact of ceasefire violations and armed clashes on civilians.
Youth, Peace and Security
Youth face the full impact of violent conflict—trauma, disrupted education, recruitment, and exposure to sexual and gender-based violence—while also playing an essential role in building peace. NP supports youth as leaders in protection, violence prevention, and peacebuilding, not just as people affected by war.
Digital Protection & Peacebuilding
Digital technologies are reshaping conflict, introducing threats like doxxing of human rights defenders, AI-driven disinformation, and algorithmic bias. NP applies Unarmed Civilian Protection methods to identify digital risks and use technology to prevent violence and protect civilians.
Adapting to Modern Warfare
Drone warfare is changing the humanitarian landscape—short-range attack drones are now among the leading causes of casualties among frontline responders. NP is adapting duty-of-care practices and protection tools to keep humanitarians and the civilians they serve safe from this evolving threat.
How We Work
Interrupting Cycles of Violence
Violence doesn’t start or end in a single moment—it builds, erupts, and lingers. Nonviolent Peaceforce works across all three: preventing violence before it starts, protecting people while it’s happening, and helping communities recover and sustain peace long after.
Protecting. Supporting. Strengthening.
We provide direct physical protection to civilians under threat—without ever carrying a weapon. And we go further, working side by side with local communities to build the skills, structures, and trust that keep peace in place long after we’re gone.
civilians evacuated from frontline areas in Ukraine through NP’s STEEL project in 2025.
gun-free barangays established across the Bangsamoro region, Philippines — the result of years of community-led, NP-supported peacebuilding.
Open the Toolbox
Practicing UCP
Nonviolent Peaceforce has transformed protective accompaniment and nonviolent self-protection into the multi-dimensional practice of Unarmed Civilian Protection. Explore the tools, training, and resources that make this approach possible—for practitioners, partners, and communities everywhere.
How We Partner
Expanding the Space for Local Peace
As an international organization, we know that lasting protection is never built by outsiders alone. Nonviolent Peaceforce partners responsibly with local organizations, sharing resources, accountability, and decision-making power.
Around the world, we train and support Community Protection Teams—local, civilian-led groups who understand their communities best. By investing in their leadership and skills, we help ensure that protection doesn’t end when we leave, and that peace is sustained by the people who live it every day.
Emergency Rapid Response
Trust, Tested Under Fire: Marawi Siege Eight Years On
When the Marawi Siege erupted in 2017, NP staff were caught in traffic alongside thousands of fleeing civilians. Drawing on years of trust built with local officials, they negotiated safe passage through a military chokepoint for a 20+ vehicle convoy—one of many moments where existing relationships meant the difference between danger and safety. Eight years later, the lessons from Marawi continue to shape how we respond when crisis strikes.
Peacebuilding
Healing a Decade of Division
In Kharab Al-Kabir, Iraq, a minor disagreement between two families had hardened into a decade-long rift between Sunni and Shia communities. NP’s local Women’s Peace Team spent months rebuilding trust on both sides — then brought the whole community together for a Ramadan iftar. By the end of the night, the two families had signed an official reconciliation agreement, ending ten years of division.
Duty of Care Is Not Optional
Protecting the Protectors
As drone warfare reshapes the threat landscape in Ukraine, local humanitarians are bearing the greatest risk with the least protection—often stepping in where international actors won’t. Protecting civilians starts with protecting the people who protect them. NP puts this into practice on the ground, and brings it into the halls of power, pushing global decision-makers to treat duty of care as a fundamental responsibility, not an afterthought.
An Evidence-based Approach
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Protection of civilians post peacekeeping drawdowns: reducing risks in the DRC, South Sudan, & Sudan
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Protecting Those Who Stay: A Practical Guide to Holistic Duty of Care
What’s Happening, What We’re Saying
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New Joint Research Examines Gender, Intersectionality, and Protection of Civilians
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Peace in Practice: Creating Space for Connection Across Ninewa
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