Photo credit: Manuel Elias/UN

United Nations

Saferworld works with United Nations (UN) Member States, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and civil society to ensure that the needs and perspectives of those affected by conflict are prioritised by UN initiatives, resolutions and interventions. We advocate putting the priorities of people affected by conflict at the forefront of peacebuilding and prevention processes. We work on issues related to young people, gender, civic space, human rights, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and counter-terrorism.

Our work

Throughout our history, Saferworld has played a crucial role in many important UN processes and initiatives. From 2012–2015, we supported UN Member States in making the ultimately successful case for a dedicated goal on peace to be included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For many years we led efforts to develop the global Arms Trade Treaty (adopted at the UN in 2014) and we have continued to play a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Treaty. We also worked closely with the UN Department of Peace Operations to support deliberations around the UN’s Future of Peacekeeping project.

Together with other civil society organisations that we partner with, we support positive progress for peacebuilding at the UN. This has included hosting civil society consultations during the UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review, contributing to the New Agenda for Peace, and pushing for progress in the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

In 2018, with partners we co-founded the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, a global network of civil society organisations that work at the UN to advocate for an end to the misuse of counter-terrorism measures. Saferworld USA acts as the host organisation for the coalition’s Secretariat and is a part of the coalition’s steering group. We push for greater protection of human rights and civic space in UN counter-terrorism responses.

Saferworld has also implemented peacebuilding projects with support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Somalia. These projects have helped us challenge harmful and patriarchal gender norms, support young people’s peacebuilding participation in Kyrgyzstan, integrate a youth-led mental health and psychosocial support approach, and enable youth-inclusive political processes.