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Core sectors

Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding

The Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding sector is one of DRC’s five core sectors of intervention. It seeks to contribute to the fields of disarmament and peacebuilding through a focus on the safety and security of the conflict- and displacement-affected populations at the center of DRC’s mandate.

Our work in Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding is guided by a bottom-up, rights-based approach, which emphasizes the right of conflict- and displacement-affected communities to safety and security.

Community-level activities include, but are not limited to:

Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding at All Levels

While our work starts at the community level, it aims to influence change at all levels to increase the understanding of community-level issues and encourage engagement with them.

This in turn strengthens the formal and informal institutional environment, which influences people’s safety and security at a local, national, and regional level. 

​​​​​​​The joint efforts of the sector contribute to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16 promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive institutions and societies.

This is done by combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, removing the threats posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, and improving security governance to prevent and manage conflicts.

The programmatic activities support community-based peacebuilding and security and promote sustainability by providing information on peace and security at all levels of society.

The sector is relevant for the development of global policy not only within disarmament and peacebuilding, but also in the humanitarian-development-peace ‘Triple Nexus’.

Five Pillars of Mine Action

HDP’s mine action operations are based on the Ottawa Convention’s Five Pillars of Mine Action:

  1. Clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance
  2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
  3. Victim assistance
  4. Advocacy
  5. Stockpile destruction
News about humanitarian mine actionView all news

13 Nov 2024

Ukraine: Making war-affected territories safe again

14 Oct 2024

Ukraine: Providing vital humanitarian aid and life-saving explosive risk education near the frontline

10 Sep 2024

Lithuanian withdrawal from the Cluster Munition Ban undermines humanitarian efforts

09 Sep 2024

Video: DRC Manual Mine Clearance intervention in Yemen

09 Sep 2024

Video: EORE Saves Lives in Yemen

09 Sep 2024

Video: The Importance of EORE in Yemen

29 Aug 2024

Combating the Threat of Unexploded Ordnance: The impacts of DRC’s EORE Sessions in South Sudan

26 Aug 2024

Standing with Ukraine: Rebuilding to ensure a brighter future - Insights from the frontline

29 Jul 2024

Ukraine: Surveying hidden dangers

19 Jun 2024

Ukraine: “I was pulled out of a 5-metre deep crater” — victim of shelling

07 Jun 2024

Ukraine: “A shell hit our house, exploding just four meters away from our bed” ‒ Olena

28 May 2024

Accidental Spread of Contaminated Land Poses Deadly Threat to Safe Areas

22 Apr 2024

Ukraine: Mechanical demining operations are gaining momentum in Mykolaiv Oblast

04 Apr 2024

Contending with an Insidious Threat: A Look Inside Mine Action Efforts in South Kordofan

04 Apr 2024

Helping to clear the way for Iraq's journey to recovery

04 Apr 2024

On Mine Awareness Day, reflections on progress and challenges for a mine free world

04 Apr 2024

Land Mines in Akobo County, South Sudan: A Looming Threat to Lives and Livelihoods

03 Apr 2024

Ukraine: Communities in contaminated areas face severe risks from explosive ordnance

28 Mar 2024

Ukraine: “I tried to hide in a cellar when a bomb hit my yard” — Ivanna

09 Feb 2024

Ukraine: Strengthening national mine action capabilities

05 Feb 2024

Life Amidst Landmines: Ahmed's Journey of Survival and Hope

02 Jan 2024

DRC Yemen: Transforming Lives in 2023

28 Dec 2023

DRC's Intervention Saves Saeed's Life Following a Landmine Explosion

10 Nov 2023

DRC’s support to Ukrainian civilians traveling from Poland to their hometowns: a glimpse into the mine risk education activities in Poland

26 Oct 2023

Ukraine: ‘I found a shell of a large calibre’ — DRC deminers clear agricultural lands

01 Oct 2023

Enhancing the Safety and Resilience of Communities through Humanitarian Mine Action Interventions in Yemen

12 Sep 2023

DRC attends the 11th Meeting of State Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 11th to 14th of September.

25 Aug 2023

Poland: Protecting Ukrainian lives through Risk Education

18 Aug 2023

Kilometres of Ukraine's forests are contaminated with explosive ordnance: DRC helps make them safe

31 Jul 2023

In Nigeria, risk education about explosive ordinance aims at preventing accidents

27 Jul 2023

New graduates ready to join DRC demining efforts

25 Jul 2023

Civilians under shelling in Ukraine: Ivan spent months in a school basement surviving the frontline battles

19 Jul 2023

DRC's support for victims of shelling in Ukraine: a glimpse into the lives of Chernihiv families

11 Jul 2023

On sending and using cluster munitions: Never under any circumstances

06 Jun 2023

How DRC’s mine action work is restoring hope in Iraq

22 May 2023

Promoting Community Resilience through the Humanitarian, Basic Needs, and Conflict Sensitivity Nexus

28 Apr 2023

Ukrainian shoemaker survived a heavy explosion of an Explosive Ordnance left in a bin

05 Apr 2023

The urgent need to limit the impact of explosive devices on civilians in Mali

04 Apr 2023

20 years of mine action in Iraq

04 Apr 2023

Fear of mines worries farmers in Ukraine as the planting season starts

28 Mar 2023

Creating a safe space for communities affected by landmines in South Sudan

16 Mar 2023

DRC Secretary General: We have reached 3 million Ukrainians

02 Mar 2023

Humanitarian mine action in Ukraine – much more than removing explosives

23 Feb 2023

DRC clears villages in Kyiv Oblast littered with explosive ordnance

30 Jan 2023

Mykolaiv: A city without doors, windows and half of its citizens

21 Oct 2022

DRC in Ukraine: Risk education saves lives in conflict-affected communities

23 Sep 2022

Removing explosive remnants of war in Ukraine

02 Sep 2022

Danish press release: DRC will commence demining activities in Helmand

10 Aug 2022

Humanitarian Mine Action: DRC aid workers trained in Denmark

27 Jul 2022

DRC Ukraine: Needs for Explosive Ordnance Risk Education grow by the day

23 Jun 2022

Ukraine: DRC deminers save lives by clearing explosives on roads

20 May 2022

Press release: DRC signs large-scale agreement in Ukraine on Humanitarian Mine Action

25 Apr 2022

Humanitarian mine action in Afghanistan

05 Apr 2022

Explosive remnants of war in Ukraine

24 Mar 2022

The deadly legacy of Yemen’s forgotten conflict

17 Feb 2022

Hardship and resilience in rural Afghanistan: Meet Nabiullah from Nawa

14 Jan 2022

Afghan mine action capacity at risk

Demining

The former Danish Demining Group becomes one of five core sectors in Danish Refugee Council

News about peacebuildingView all news

24 Sep 2024

Lebanon: DRC calls for immediate action to end violence and protect civilians

13 Aug 2024

Turkana and Pokot Peace Committees Meet in Kainuk to Strengthen Peaceful Coexistence

02 Jun 2024

A letter from a youth leader involved in social cohesion

11 Apr 2024

More than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations call to stop arms transfers to Israel, Palestinian armed groups

21 Sep 2023

Youth-led social cohesion: Bringing Muqdadiya back together

22 May 2023

Promoting Community Resilience through the Humanitarian, Basic Needs, and Conflict Sensitivity Nexus

10 May 2023

Photo gallery from Mali: Our emergency mobile teams deploy within 72 hours - even to the hardest-to-reach areas.

22 Mar 2023

Open Letter to the Yemeni Parties to the Conflict from 141 NGOs: Restore and Renew the Truce and Build Lasting Peace

11 Aug 2022

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cookies for peace

01 Aug 2022

Joint Statement

07 Jul 2022

The Transition to Peace and Recovery in Rural Afghanistan

We work with Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding in these countries

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Camp coordination and camp management

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