OCT 9, 2012 PROGRAM:
Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping: Has its time come?
Posted by Sherry Howe
on Oct 9, 2012
Nonviolent Peaceforce is an international non-profit organization that provides unarmed and nonpartisan civilian peacekeepers on invitation by groups deeply rooted in communities where there is violent conflict. It provides safe spaces for civilians to do the work of peacemaking and peacebuilding in their communities. It works with civilians to reduce violence.
Presently Nonviolent Peaceforce has 160 peacekeepers in Mindanao Philippines, South Sudan and South Caucasus and administrative staff in Minneapolis and Brussels. NP Peacekeepers come from 25 countries with about 35 % of them women. NP Peacekeepers live in villages where there is armed conflict and engage in multilevel diplomacy, have continuous dialogue with all the armed parties from the village commanders to the highest ranking generals as well as civilians.
Tiffany Easthom serves as the Country Director for Nonviolent Peaceforce’s peacekeeping project in South Sudan. Her work in South Sudan has included the return and protection of child soldiers, working with women on protective strategies for gender based violence, direct protection for refugees and IDPS, inter-communal violence reduction, and, the implementation of conflict early warning early response systems.Prior to becoming NP’s Country Director in South Sudan, Tiffany served as Country Director at NP’s Sri Lanka project as well as Country Director for Peace Brigades International in Indonesia.
Tiffany Easthom serves as the Country Director for Nonviolent Peaceforce’s peacekeeping project in South Sudan. Her work in South Sudan has included the return and protection of child soldiers, working with women on protective strategies for gender based violence, direct protection for refugees and IDPS, inter-communal violence reduction, and, the implementation of conflict early warning early response systems.Prior to becoming NP’s Country Director in South Sudan, Tiffany served as Country Director at NP’s Sri Lanka project as well as Country Director for Peace Brigades International in Indonesia.