Justice and Peace

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, the state often fails to fulfil its primary obligation to protect the population and maintain the rule of law.

Security and justice providers like the police and courts can be unresponsive while citizens bear the burden, with women, youth, and the poorest people disproportionately affected.

Shrinking Space for Civil Society

Civil society is the foundation of our security and justice initiatives. Unfortunately, in recent years, the space for civil society to advocate and lobby for fundamental rights has shrunk significantly.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities in several countries prohibited the right to congregate. In some cases, measures to reduce citizens’ freedom of speech are still active and undermine attempts to hold officers accountable.

In other countries, the democratically elected government has been overthrown by the military, limiting the ability of civil society actors to operate freely.

The collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 has had severe consequences for the position of women and has curtailed opportunities for civil society to advocate for inclusion.

Despite these challenges, we continue our work, supporting local civil society actors with tools to develop effective advocacy agendas and raise their voices in international forums.

Better Security, Justice and Governance Outcomes

We strengthen people’s capacities to advocate effectively and achieve better security, justice, and governance outcomes. We do this through joint research and analysis of the needs and priorities of justice seekers and capacity strengthening for better advocacy and influencing strategies.

Increasing Responsiveness and Accountability

We also reinforce the responsiveness and accountability of security and justice providers in volatile and fragile settings by introducing results-based financing for security, justice, and governance institutions. This has led to better security and justice outcomes for local communities.

We work with the formal security and justice sector, civil society, and communities. We also support local NGOs in providing legal aid and mediating in conflicts.

Peacebuilding

Through various programmes, we enhance inclusive peacebuilding and security processes responsive to the needs of citizens and their communities. Our work promotes the role and leadership of women and youth in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and enhancing local security.

All our actions are anchored in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250. Civil society’s engagement in peacebuilding and state-building is a critical contribution to conflict and crisis prevention. 

Resolving Conflict and Promoting Social Cohesion 

Women and youth are integral to inclusive, peaceful societies. However, their contribution to peacebuilding and security processes is often neglected.

In Iraq, for instance, we have involved young people in advocacy to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence.

In 2021, more than 400 young people participated in the Youth Borderlands Forum in Burundi, the DRC, and Uganda.

Cordaid and the United Network of Young Peacebuilders, UNOY, developed this project. Local partner organisations received training in research and advocacy and strengthened their cross-border collaboration to promote more inclusive peacebuilding in the region.

With our work on this topic, we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations:

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