The Creating Safer Space network is pleased to launch the UCP Research Database.

This is a user-friendly way of finding the latest research on Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP), community self-protection and related topics. It contains information on academic research publications, working papers and NGO documents, which you can easily search using keywords or browsing specific regions and countries. Users can also contribute to the database by uploading information not yet featuring in it.

http://ucpresearch.uk/resourcespaceTo find out more about how to use the UCP database, have a look at these instructional videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDRfIX2tBwmK_9XK2xFCVyycur9-mlrcu

Last spring, the Creating Safer Space teams at Strathmore University in Kenya and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand organised a series of training workshops on research methods.

These covered both standard research skills, such as academic writing skills, as well as innovative research methods, such as arts-based, creative, participatory and digital research methods. 

Videos of the workshops are now available online on our YouTube channel:

The aim of the Creating Safer Space Research Café is to enable people in different parts of the world to exchange knowledge and to help build a community of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) researchers and practitioners.

This month, we will have a presentation and discussion on the following topic:

UCP in Myanmar

12.30 – 1.30 pm UTC on Thursday 27 May

The session will be held in English and Spanish with simultaneous translation.

Please contact creating-safer-space@aber.ac.uk to request the Zoom joining details.

The Creating Safer Space network warmly invites you to two workshops on security and protection for researchers.

Over the past few years, a growing number of incidents and events have highlighted both the need for researchers to reflect on their own security and protection, and for organisations to have responsible security practices and policies in place. Conducting field research has become increasingly risky in some contexts, particularly in settings characterised by violent armed conflicts, or in countries where repressive regimes impose limits on what researchers can do.

The workshops are relevant for all researchers who conduct fieldwork in conflict settings or authoritarian countries, and are free of charge. The workshops are offered in English and Spanish. 

English workshops

7.00 – 10.30 am UTC on Wednesday 16 June: Risk analysis and protection plans

7.00 – 10.30 am UTC on Wednesday 30 June: Digital security 

Spanish workshops:

2.00 – 5.30 pm UTC, miercoles 9 de junio: Análisis de riesgos y planes de protección 

2.00 – 5.30 pm UTC, miercoles 23 de junio: Seguridad digital

The workshops are organised by the Creating Safer Space network and delivered by Sylvain Lefebvre from Protection International. The workshops are funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

The Creating Safer Space network invites its members and partners to sign up for the training course “Strengthening Civilian Capacities to Protect Civilians”, which will run from 1 April to 15 May 2021. The course will be facilitated by Dr Ellen Furnari (USA) and Jane Wanjiru (Kenya) and held in English. 

This course is an introduction to the objectives, principles, sources of guidance, and methods of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). UCP is a set of field-tested methods for the protection of civilians in areas of violent conflict. It does not rely on the use of guns or other weapons, or on the threat of their use. UCP encompasses efforts of communities to self protect and/or international organizations, working with local partners to build relationships that can be activated to deescalate episodes of conflict and to prevent or interrupt violence.

There are no scheduled meetings for this course, however, participants are invited to meet the course facilitators, Dr Ellen Furnari and Jane Wanjiru, and each other during an informal kick-off Zoom meeting on April 1^st, 1-2pm (UTC).

Participants complete all activities online through modules that are accessed through the course website (see below). The course is conducted in English, and participants should have access to the internet either by computer or by smart phone. The course will require about 8-10 hours per week to read, participate, and complete assignments. Successful students will receive a certificate upon completion.

Course Resources:

Required Reading:

Huibert Oldenhuis, et. al. (2021). Strengthening Civilian Capacities to Protect Civilians. Nonviolent Peaceforce and UNITAR. https://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/images/UCPManual/2021_Course_Manual___Full_Text.pdf 

Learning Objectives:

At completion, students will successfully:

• describe the key principles, objectives, and sources of guidance for UCP;
• analyze a conflict and identify vulnerable populations;
• demonstrate an understanding of the methods of UCP and how they can be adapted and applied to a conflict situation; and
• identify key features of an effective UCP implementation plan and exit strategy, with a view toward maximizing the security both of UCP staff and local civilians.

The course is organised by the Creating Safer Space network and delivered by Dr Ellen Furnari and Jane Wanjiru. Course materials and platforms have been kindly provided by our network partner Nonviolent Peaceforce. The course is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

Welcome to the launch of the Creating Safer Space Research Café. 

The aim of the Creating Safer Space Research Café is to enable people in different parts of the world to exchange knowledge and to help build a community of Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) researchers and practitioners. These monthly informal sessions on Zoom enable project teams from different countries to introduce themselves and their work.

In the first Café, our project partners Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society will present on UCP in the Philippines, followed by an informal discussion. All members of the Creating Safer Space network are warmly welcome. The session will be held in English and Spanish with simultaneous translation.

12.30 – 1.30pm UTC on 25 February 2021

Later in the spring, we will host Research Cafés about UCP in Colombia and Myanmar. Please join our mailing list to find out more.