Fight for Humanity is pleased to announce that it is part of a consortium to research ways to prevent civilian suffering in armed conflicts. The "Beyond Compliance Consortium", is comprised of academics and practitioners led by the University of York and has been awarded up to £5 million to research ways to prevent and reduce civilian suffering in armed conflicts around the world.
It is a co-productive partnership between the University of York , the University of Glasgow, Utrecht University, and six humanitarian NGOs, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, War Child UK, Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre, Center for Civilians in Conflict, Centre on Armed Groups and Fight for Humanity.
The research is focused on civilians' experience of conflict and the relationship between humanitarian need and civilian harm, and armed actors’ compliance with norms and restraint from violence. Developed over three years (a theoretical, empirical, and operational research programme "Building Evidence on Promoting Restraint by Armed Actors."), it will provide strategic understanding of what factors, processes and influences shape a wide range of armed actors’ behaviour.
The goal is to develop tangible and positive ways to influence these behaviours so as to ensure better outcomes for civilian populations. During conflict, civilians fall victim to all sorts of weapon use, displacement, food insecurity and violations of Human Rights.
The Beyond Compliance Consortium's programme will shed light on how States and non-state armed groups operate. Understanding this can be a valuable tool for policy-makers, operational actors, and civilian communities that they can employ in their efforts to mitigate conflict-induced civilian harm.