Events

In a globalised world, the impact of the deterioration of security in conflict zones extends far beyond their immediate geographical scope. The consequences are global: people are forced to flee, prices rise, resources become scarce, social cohesion crumbles and polarisation within societies increases. This atmosphere of uncertainty has pushed more and more states to turn inwards and has given rise to isolationist policies. A retreat by major powers from multilateralism is putting the entire ‘international community’ at stake. Funding for humanitarian aid, crisis prevention, peace support, and sustainable development is dwindling, directly impacting people affected by conflict. Efforts supporting Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) processes – and related initiatives such as Community Violence Reduction (CVR) efforts - are equally affected by significant funding drops in mission and non-mission settings.

Given global developments, this year’s IDDRTG Extraordinary Meeting titled “DDR at a Crossroads: Adapting to New Realities in a Changing Global Landscape - Perspectives from Research, Policy and Practice” will focus on the critical juncture that international peace support is currently facing, with a particular emphasis on the evolving role of DDR. Bringing together researchers and practitioners, including policymakers and members of training institutions, the event will take stock of past DDR experience and identify new pathways on ‘how to achieve more with less’. Processes, including the ongoing UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) and DDR’s contribution to it, and strategic documents adopted in the past year, such as the UN Pact for the future and the DDR Pledge, are important references for the discussions.

For inquiries and suggestions, please contact Claudia Breitung and Milena Berks.