Practical, Nonviolent Approaches to Interrupting Violence

This interactive workshop will explore real-world applications of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP), a proven, nonviolent strategy for interrupting cycles of violence in armed conflict. Led by Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) and co-organizers in Iraq and South Sudan, the session offers participants the chance to learn directly from practitioners working on the frontlines of violence prevention.

Participants will engage in participatory exercises, small group work, and case study discussions drawn from active conflict zones. The session builds on NP’s Unarmed Civilian Protection Foundation Training (UFT), a transformative process designed to shift perspectives on security, from protection by force to mutual protection, and equip individuals with the practical tools and internal capacities to respond to violence non-violently.

Participants will explore how civilians can act to reduce violence, support community self-protection, and collaborate across divides, while honouring key principles such as nonviolence, non-partisanship, and the primacy of local actors.

The workshop will conclude with a moderated dialogue featuring practitioners from South Sudan and Iraq, followed by an invitation to deepen learning through the UCP Academy and Changemakers Project, both of which offer online and field-based training and support.