Current Civilian Protection Projects

In cases of genocide and mass atrocity, the most important human need is often the least frequently met: protection for civilians, from killing, rape, destruction of livelihoods and other acts of violence. The Genocide Intervention Network's Civilian Protection Program is unique in that it finds, develops and supports projects focused specifically on protecting civilians. This directly supports our mission of ending genocide and mass atrocity, while providing you with the opportunity to directly protect civilians in harm's way. At the moment our projects include:

BURMA

The Problem: Villages under Attack by the Government

Since the early fall of 2007, government troops have been abusing civilians in connection with large-scale pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. The Burmese regime has been systematically committing heinous crimes against its ethnic population in rural areas, particularly in the east, for over 45 years. Learn more about Burma.

In order to devastate and terrify targeted populations, the government has committed thousands of documented cases of summary executions, torture, rape, forced relocation, and many other atrocities. To escape this carnage, civilians mainly flee or hide. In order to survive a military assault, it is critical that village communities have as much warning information as possible, as early as possible.

Most villages are small and have no two-way radios or cell phones. Overland travel is slow and the only roads in the region are heavily patrolled and landmined. Thus, if a person knows that a village just a few miles away might be attacked in a matter of hours, it still may be impossible to warn them in time.

The Solution: Early Warning System to Protect Civilians from Attack

GI-NET is working with a local implementing partner, The Free Burma Rangers, to create a radio-based early warning system. This network enables civilians to receive and send warning information and distress calls, greatly enhancing the time they have to prepare and flee. GI-NET has begun funding a pilot program that will deliver over 200 radios and associated equipment to villages in targeted areas of Burma's Karen State. Villagers are being trained on radio use and the appropriate network protocol.

This system means that villages in the network will have very little chance of getting surprised by an attack. An early version of the radio system has already been used and saved lives. Additionally, it will not only give villages advance warning of military attacks but will also facilitate the deployment of "Relief Teams" led by the Free Burma Rangers.

The Burma Challange Grant

In support of the Genocide Intervention Network's Burma Early Warning Project, the Echoing Green Foundation has issued a $25,000 matching grant challenge. Through May 31, all donations to the Burma Challenge Grant will be matched 100%.

Participate in the Burma Challange Grant and Donate Now

Past Projects

DARFUR

The Problem: Civilians in Darfur Not Protected

Under the current United Nations/African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), police contingents known as Formed Police Units (FPUs) are responsible for many of the protection activities that keep civilians safe from attack.

Just months before the January 2008 launch of the UNAMID mission, GI-NET discovered that the UN lacked even the most basic standards and training materials to ensure FPUs were trained properly to protect the people of Darfur.

The Solution: GI-NET Speeds Development of UN Standards and Police Training Program

Together with key partners, GI-NET expedited the development of standards for FPUs and a manual to guide their training and evaluation. We have completed two phases of this project:

Phase 1: Interim Standards for Police Units: GI-NET funded a workshop in February 2008 where commanders of police units from other peacekeeping missions met with UN officials to develop essential interim standards. These standards ensure that police units accepted to the mission are qualified and safe to deploy.

Phase 2: Training Program for Police Unit Commanders: Once the standards were established, GI-NET and its partners contracted a highly experienced police trainer to write the manual that is being used to train and evaluate police commanders. He then taught the manual to the trainers and evaluators deployed to Darfur. The manual ensures that police understand the appropriate amount of force to use in different scenarios and are trained in the use of their firearms and other key skills.

The Problem: Vulnerable Households Unable to Afford Firewood

Within the camps, a robust firewood market offers the necessary fuel to cook without having to risk leaving the camps. Families who can afford to buy firewood do, as it prevents them from having to collect it themselves. It is those households unable to afford firewood that are forced to put themselves at risk. Unfortunately, there have typically been few opportunities for families living in IDP camps to obtain an income sufficient enough to allow them to purchase firewood.

The Solution: Income Generating Activities

By providing families with materials for Income Generating Activities, such as growing vegetables and raising poultry, these families can afford to buy firewood. At a one time cost of only $80, families were provided with the tools to create their own sources of sustainable income.

Your support since 2007 provided 1,000 of the most vulnerable households with materials and training for income generating activities. Our impact assessment shows that this program worked very well, providing households with additional income that they could use to purchase firewood, rather than risking violence trying to collect it.

BUILDING OUR CAPACITY

Protection Trust Fund

We need your help to raise the funds to protect civilians where and when they are at risk.

Flexibility and speed are critical in the development of effective protection projects — this is a reason why many government agencies fail to effectively address these problems. Our approach is to develop a protection trust fund which can be rapidly used to support protection projects when opportunities arise. All projects are thoroughly vetted and monitored by our Protection staff and must be approved by our Board. By contributing to the Protection Trust Fund, you ensure that the Genocide Intervention Network is able to assess conflicts and carry out civilian protection programs in areas where it is most needed.