oxfam final concept report

8/13/2019 Oxfam final concept report

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Protection ofivilians

Joel Arken

Jill Boyd

Bacho Giorgadze

Sharif Hassanein

Ka`ili Jackson

Mohamed Ka

Jonathan Leonard

Christie Saint-vil

Kiah Shapiro


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Table of Contents

Glossary of Terms

Acronyms

Executive Summary

1. History of the Conflict/Background of the Issues 6

2. Concept Map 8

3. Stakeholder Analysis 11

3.1 Primary Stakeholders 11

3.2 Visual Representation Stakeholder Analysis 12

4. DPKO Needs Assessment 13

4.1 Introduction 13

4.2 Assessment 13

4.3 Measuring and Indicators 14

5. Present a Logical Framework 15

6. Indicators of Success & Baseline Indicators 16

7. The Role of International Institutions 17

8. The Capacity & Decision Making Role of the Affected Communities 19

8.1 Syrian Refugee Graph 21

9. Major Challenges to Sustained Personnel Cooperation 22

10. Possible Collaborations 24

10.1 Oxfam Potential Partnership Index 26

11. Campaign Strategies 27

12. Major Accomplishments & Goals Achieved 28

13. Policy Recommendations to Ensure the Protection of Civilians 29

14. Our teams Proposal 3

Bibliography


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Glossary of Terms

Beneficiary: is a person for whom the project is being undertaken. A beneficiary can include a

customer, user, or project sponsor (donor organization).1

Capacity Building: is enabling people, organizations, and societies to develop, strengthen, andexpand their abilities to meet their goals or fulfill their mandates. Capacity is strengthened

through the transfer of knowledge and skills that enhance individual and collective abilities to

deliver services and carry out programs that address challenges in a sustainable way. It is a long-

term and continuous process that focuses on developing human resources, organizational

strength, and legal structures, and it involves all stakeholders including civil society.2

Logical Framework: is a table or matrix that summarizes key elements of a project strategy and

the logic that connects them. A logical framework includes a set of goals, objectives and

activities designed to achieve a project.3

Non-state Actor: also known as non-official actor, is a large category of actors of non-

governmental organizations, multinational corporations, insurgents, criminal organizations,

religious groups, trade unions, universities, and diaspora communities. Most types of non-state

actors are considered part of civil society.4

Needs Assessment: is a process of identifying organizations capacity, including both strengths

and potential problems, in order to determine and plan what areas to focus on to improve the

effectiveness of the organization.5

Protection of Civilians (PoC): refers to efforts made by any actor to reduce the vulnerability of

women, men, and children caught in conflict to violence, coercion, and deprivation of aid.6

Stakeholder: is an individual or institution who has an interest and influence in the output of a

project. There can be multiple stakeholders in a given project. Stakeholders include members of

a community, employees, government representatives, corporations,international organizations,

investors, etc.7

1Adapted from lecture notes. Session 6, October 4, 2013, Mona Shomali.

2(Snodderly 2011)3Adapted from lecture notes. Session 6, October 4, 2013, Mona Shomali.4(Snodderly 2011)5Adapted from lecture notes. Session 6, October 4, 2013, Mona Shomali.6(Oxfam 2011)

7Adapted from lecture notes. Session 6, October 4, 2013, Mona Shomali.


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Acronyms

ATT Arms Trade Treaty

CBO Community-Based Organization

DPKO Department for Peacekeeping Operations

FPO Formed Police Units

ICR International Committee of the Red Cross

IDP Internally Displaced Person

OCHA United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

PoC Protection of Civilians

PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UNAMID United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNPOL United Nations PoliceUNMIS United Nations Mission in Sudan

UNSC United Nations Security Council

UNSG United Nations Secretary-General


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Executive Summary

BackgroundDuring times of armed conflict and war innocent bystanders are caught in violence, losing either

their basic human rights or their life itself. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) andorganizations like Oxfam, effectively respond to the interests and needs of targeted civilians

through the mandate known as Protection of Civilians (PoC). Despite the emphasis on civilianprotection, advanced by the international community, coordination in the delivery of protection

lacks strategy. This creates a nebulous state of confusion and ineffectiveness. With responseoften uneven and inconsistent, Oxfam strives to improve the rhetoric associated with PoC in

order to effectively and properly protect civilians in armed conflicts. If the violence imposedupon citizens is not mitigated, instability and lawlessness will continue to run rampant.

StakeholdersWhen building a framework for PoC, stakeholders must be identified in order to effectivelyaddress all relevant actors. Key stakeholders in PoC are:

! Civilians in conflict areas have the highest stake in their own protection, but lowinfluence,

! Non-state actors (party to conflict) have a moderate stake and often have a negativeinfluence on PoC.

! States (party to conflict) have a high stake and mixed influence on PoC.! The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has a low to moderate stake but high

influence on PoC policy and action. The UNSC has great power in creating agendas andmandates to intervene in conflicts.

! The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has a moderate

stake and moderate influence, relative to other stakeholders. The DPKO followsmandates given by the UNSC.

! Oxfam Internationalis the beneficiary of this project. Oxfam has a low stake in PoC andmoderate influence. PoC advocacy is only one of many projects undertaken by Oxfam.

Case Study: DPKOUN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) require the coordination and action of three distinctpersonnel agencies: the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Formed Police Units

(FPU), and local police forces. Cohesion between these forces remains fragmented andunspecified due to current UN Security Council (UNSC) mandates that clearly define DPKO

parameters, yet leave those for FPUs and local forces obscured.

Strategies: ATTOne of Oxfams greatest advocacy achievements has been its support for the creation of theArms Trade Treaty (ATT). Oxfam believes that the uncontrolled spread of arms fuels conflict,

undermines development, and contributes to countless violations of human rights andinternational humanitarian law. In the great majority of cases, arms are the tools that inflict

violence, coercion and deprivation on civilians in conflict.


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Looking to the FutureAssessing the feasibility of collaboration with partner organizations, our practicum team willprovide a thorough policy analysis of various peacekeeping activities run by DPKO and

mandated by the UNSC. We will identify practices outside of the operational mandate for eachmission and analyze for systemic inconsistencies and patterns. The anticipated result is a set of

recommendations which will allow for the consistent and systematic invocation of PoC in UNSCmandates addressing civilian issues in conflict zones.


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1. History of the Conflict

Blurring the line between civilians and soldiers (active combat participants) the twenty wars and

conflicts around the world today have created an environment of pure havoc, turmoil, and

instability. A tactical move, the lack of distinction between civilian and soldier is used as a

method to deliberately target civilian populations as a means of political gain. Without the

capacity to defend themselves, civilians garner the least power, are the most vulnerable, and have

the highest number of casualties. Women and children in particular suffer disproportionately

during conflicts.8In addition, young girls and children are subjected to rape and other forms of

sexual violence. More than six million civilians have been maimed or permanently disabled and

thousands are internally displaced.9 Forcibly coerced into prostitution, slavery, and compulsory

labor, thousands of civilians are abducted from their homes. Many young men and boys are

ruthlessly exploited as soldiers. Armed actors deliberately deprive civilians of basic services

such as healthcare, education, jobs, and access to emergency relief aid. Ultimately, civilians are

deprived of their inalienable and basic human rights.10

If the legitimacy of a state is dependent on its capacity to monopolize the physical use of

violence, then the protection of civilians from armed conflict should be a top priority. However,

the state often does not have the capacity to do so or may even view civilians as enemies of the

state. In this event, the responsibility to protect civilians transfers to the international

community. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and organizations like Oxfam

effectively respond to the interests and needs of targeted civilians. In 1999, it was explicitly

mandated by the UNSC that UN peacekeeping missions must protect civilians where the threat

of violence is imminent.11

Oxfam defines the Protection of Civilians (PoC) as the action to

improve the safety of civilians exposed to widespread threats of violence, coercion, or deliberatedeprivation.

12By narrowing the focus to intervention for the sake of civilians, PoC

differentiates itself from Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Oxfams goal is to fully comprehend

the term PoC, the language associated with it, and to effectively reduce the level of threat and

vulnerability.

PoC is essential because it is a crucial condition for sustainable political peace and may

legitimize military intervention.13

It is extremely important that efforts are made in order to deter

attacks on civilians. Despite the strong emphasis advanced by the international community to

protect the innocent, coordination to deliver protection lacks strategy creating a nebulous state of

confusion and ineffectiveness. With response often uneven and inconsistent (i.e Somalia, DRC,

8(Oxfam 2011)

9ibid

10(Oxfam n.d.)

11(United Nations 2008)

12(Oxfam n.d.)

13(Holt, Taylor and Kelly 2009) p3


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Afghanistan) Oxfam strives to improve the rhetoric associated with PoC in order to effectively

and properly protect civilians in armed situations. If these attacks are not mitigated, instability

and lawlessness will continue to run rampant. Civilians will continue to be targeted while being

subjected to direct and indirect effects of armed conflict. Increasing the potential for conflict to

spill beyond state borders international peace and security will immediately be threatened.


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Source: Original work, adapted from Cairns 2008 - Kiah Shapiro

2. Concept Map

Two reports published by Oxfam in the past few years have attempted to outline the violation ofcivilians rights in violent conflict. The above infographic illuminates the main issues examined

by Oxfam, which lead to the violation of these rights. Conflict is caused by security issues which

severely and disproportionately affect civilians, particularly women and children. Conflict host

states and the international community have been unable to directly address civilian vulnerability

in armed conflict. The failure of host states and the international community to ameliorate five

key concerns (shown at the top of the infographic) further exacerbates civilian insecurity. Oxfam

recommends that host states and the international community strengthen their engagement with

these issues in order to ensure the protection of civilians living in areas of armed conflict.


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3. Stakeholder Analysis

3.1 Primary Stakeholders:Civilians in conflict areas have the highest stake in their own protection, but low influence.

Civilians continue to account for the vast majority of casualties in situations of armed

conflict14according to the UNSC. Civilians is a broad label and includes important subgroupswith varying mobility and impact: women, child soldiers, and aid workers.

Non-state actors (party to conflict)have a moderate stake and generally negative influence on

PoC. Non-state actors party to conflict have targeted civilians in military campaigns, and

committed sexual violence, enlisted child soldiers and killed aid workers.15

States (party to conflict) have a high stake and mixed influence on PoC. In 2005, it was

mandated that states had a responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes,

ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.16[3] Some states lack institutions to ensure PoC

and in some conflicts, state actors target civilians in the same forms as non-state actors.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)has a low to moderate stake but high influence on

PoC policy and action. UNSC has a great power in creating agendas and mandates to intervene

in conflicts, but UNSC states are shielded from direct political consequences of their

decisions.17

[4] Since the Statement by the President of the Security Council in 1999, PoC has

been addressed by UNSC as a important issue.18

[5]

United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)has a moderate stake and

moderate influence, relative to the other stakeholders. DPKO follows the mandates given by the

UNSC, but have operational freedom in program implementation.. DPKO perceives PoC

advocacy to be about managing expectations and prefers clear operational mandates. 19[6]

Oxfam International is the beneficiary of this project. Oxfam has a low stake in PoC and

moderate influence. PoC advocacy is only one of many projects undertaken by Oxfam.

14(UN Security Council 2010)

15(Oxfam 2011)

16(UN General Assembly 2005)

17(Oxfam 2011)

18(UN Security Council 1999)19Holt, Taylor and Kelly 2009) p12


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3.2 Visual Representation Stakeholder Analysis

Source: Original work, adapted from Cairns 2008 - Joel Arken, Kiah Shapiro


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4. DKPO Needs Assessment:

4.1 Introduction

UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) require the coordination and action of three distinct

personnel agencies: the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Formed Police Units

(FPU), and local police forces. Cohesion between these forces remains fragmented and

unspecified due to current UN Security Council (UNSC) mandates that clearly define DPKO

parameters, yet leave those for FPUs and local forces obscured. This general confusion regarding

identified roles between the latter two groups results in limited functionality for both,

compromising the overall responsibility to protect civilians in conflict and post-conflict

situations. Defining these expectations and responsibilities is the first step in establishing

institutional mechanisms for a long-term security environment that strengthens host state

capacity through training and monitoring of local law enforcement personnel. But what is the

role of the police and how can its effectiveness be properly measured?

4.2 Assessment

Despite the discrepancy in mandate and practice, traditional FPU functions under executive and

non-executive mandates include: UN personnel and facility protection, local law enforcement

agency security support, and capacity building assistance. Deployment trends show that FPUs

typically engage in crowd control capacities, but can be effectively integrated and utilized under

a specific PoC mandate in greater efforts to maintain civilian security.

Research has identified that a specific mandate for local police is missing and forces are left to

operate in a vague capacity in the deployment and removal of DPKO and FPUs. Building local

police capacity is essential for sustainable civilian protection that will consist of two phases:design and implementation. The following actors and practices should be integrated into training

programs for a comprehensive, reflexive, and relevant approach that is best for stakeholders and

beneficiaries.

Actors involved must include local police forces to determine what is needed: what resources,

funding, training topics, and accountability mechanisms will be required to measure a successful

program? How will topics of sensitivity training and confidence building be addressed? What

missing links and best practices can DPKO advise that have contributed to success in the past?

Due to the unique and particular aspects of states, regions, and cultures, training programs mustbe designed according to these features to determine what will be the most effective for each

local context. Engagement with key groups is essential to implementing a program that fits the

local circumstances in which it aims to protect, including community elders, women, businesses

and religious leaders.


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4.3 Measuring and Indicators

Indicators to assess local capacity building baselines and progress will be the first step in

program design in attempts to bolster civilian protection. These include:

Source: Original work, adapted from Holt, pg 121-128 - Jill Boyd


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5. Present a Logical Framework

Source: Original work - Sharif Hassanein

Indicator 1 Activity 1 and 2: Local police capacity building and sensitivity training is based on

several examples of trying to repair local security capacity after armed conflict. Both UNMIS

and UNAMID emphasized a civilian police component focusing on advising, training,monitoring and joint patrolling with local police.

20Although, there was no direct mandate for

protection of civilians by UNPOL or FPU in either UNMIS or UNAMID, the fact that they were

patrolling IDP camps acted as a deterrent on would be attackers.21

Indicator 2 Activity 3: Joint DPKO, FPU, UNPOL, and local community based police unit

patrols, derived from the UNAMID experience. The Darfur mission gave UN police, especially

the Formed Police Units, more of an expanded role and was used to patrol IDP camps and help

relieve DPKO troops from being overstretched in attempt to confront spoilers.22

20(Holt, Taylor and Kelly 2009) p323, 345

21ibid p35222ibid p345-6


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6. Indicators of Success & Baseline Indicators

After planning of a project design, the success of the project is measured and reported against a

set of indicators. The formulation of indicators are part of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E)

of a project cycle.23

Thus, the significance of using indicators is to monitor and evaluate the

project. The indicators can be quantitative in measuring a progress of project in numerical value

and qualitative in measuring perceptions, opinions, attitudes, satisfactions, etc.

The following selection is a compilation of possible quantitative indicators to measure the

progress for the PoC framework. The extent to which the project will be assessed is still to be

determined therefore some of the indicators are based on Oxfams previous projects, while others

are modifications generated from a sample pool used by international development organizations

for the protection of civilians.24

Divided into two categories, small-scale and large-scale. The former monitors immediate or

short-term changes, while the latter looks at long-term comprehensive changes within the project.Using the method SMART (Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, and Time-bound):

the indicators are specific because they are measuring explicit objectives while avoiding

differing interpretations; measurable in monitoring and evaluating progress; appropriate in

addressing a specific problem, goal, and strategy; realistic because they are achievable and

attainable; and time-bound because the measurable outcomes have a specific time-frame for

achieving the objective.

Small scale:

! Deployment of 20 day and 20 night patrol personnel in and around the refugee camps for

a 6-month period.! Increase the presence of state police and army personnel on the ground by 5 per cent in

conflict zone within 6 months.

! Establish 5 emergency help centers within a radius of 5000 feet from the conflict zone.

Large scale:

! Decrease in the number of incidents of unlawful use of force against civilian population,

including children and women, by 5 per cent over the 6-month period.

! Reduce in the number of incidents of weapon-related injuries against civilian population

for the duration of 12 months.

! Decrease in the reported civilian casualties by 15 per cent over the 12-month period.

23Adapted from lecture notes. Session 7, October 16, 2013, Mona Shomali.24(International Committee of the Red Cross 2012)


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7. The Role of International Institutions

Nascent beginnings in the Geneva conventions of 1949, the PoC is widely acknowledged by the

international community as still in need of improvement. PoC involved international institutions

influence donor countries such as the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to

participate. Along with Oxfam, the following international organizations are instrumental in

improving the PoC mandate:

! United Nations Security Council- The purpose of the UNSC is to maintain international

peace and security. As the most influential body involved, the UNSC has taken a leading

role within the efforts of the PoC to monitor conflicts while immediately responding to

any threats posed to civilians. Authorizing missions pushed forth by regional and

international bodies, the UNSC must ask all actors to minimize civilian harm and refrain

from excessive force in hostilities.25

Additionally the UNSC works in collaboration

with the International Criminal Court to bring justice against those whove committedcrimes against humanity.

! Department of Peacekeeping Operations- The DPKO defines and implements

protection mandates through peacekeeping operations. DPKO along with the Department

for Field Support (DFS) created an Operational Concept on the Protection of Civilians in

the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. This concept promotes a three tiered

approach which aims to establish protective and safe environments, protection through

political process, and protection from physical violence.26

! United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees- The UNHCR serves to protectcivilians by creating safe havens for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Providing perimeter security, physical protection, and protection against human rights

abuses. The UNHCR also helps refugees find appropriate and durable solutions for

returning to their homeland, integration, or resettlement.27

! United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs- Responsible for chemical weapons

reduction they also strengthen the prohibition against biological weapons. Focusing on

the destabilization of small arms, light weapons, and landmines, the hope is to break the

cycle of weapons used to kill and maim civilians.28

! International Committee of the Red Cross- The ICRCs role in PoC not only focuses

on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected states, but also ensures that

25(Oxfam 2012)

26ibid p2

27(The United Nations High Commisssioner for Refugees n.d.)

28(United Nations 2008) p. 131


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local and national authorities fulfill their obligations to protect all categories of innocent

civilians.29

The ICRC is responsible for conducting comprehensive studies aimed to

strengthen the relationship between International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and PoC. The

United Nations, states, as well as international and national tribunals have used these

studies as a legal reference.30

! The NGO sector- The NGO community is made up of a wide variety of actors that

collectively have a strong impact on PoC. Humanitarian NGOs play an important role in

relation to PoC by providing emergency relief to civilians while ensuring that civilians

have equal access to health care, drinking water, and shelter.

Additionally, many UN bodies have participated in conferences pertaining to the Protection of

Civilians in armed conflict including: the ICRC led UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty in

Bern and the upcoming conference on the Syrian [conflict] Peace Talks addressing the PoC in

January 2014.

29(International Committee of the Red Cross n.d.)

30ibid


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8. The Capacity & Decision Making Role of the Affected Communities

Oxfams operational presence within a PoC context suggests that its beneficiaries have a

substantial deficit of capacity and decision making. If the affected community had a robust

capacity for decision-making, Oxfam would likely not be working to address their needs.

Generally, those who Oxfam seeks to address are those with extremely few options, and very

little control over their own well being. As an example of a vulnerable population we take a

closer look at the Syrian Civil War, and examine which people Oxfam decided to assist, and how.

In Oxfams mission statement, it divides its activities into 6 major sectors; the sector which the

Syrian Civil War falls under is that of disaster relief. In its description, Oxfam describes these

activities:

We help people caught up in natural disasters and conflict. We typically provide clean water,

food and sanitation in disaster zones. As far as we can, we strive to ensure that civilians areprotected too

31.

In this situation Oxfam has chosen its major beneficiaries as: Syrian refugees who have crossed

international borders, via land, in order to escape fighting. It also acknowledges the needs of

millions internally displaced people, and laments its inability to directly assist them.32

Lack of

refugee capacity for choices which better their livelihood continue to raise issues, even after

refugees have been settled into camps. This affected communitys low level of capacity raises a

number of concerns:

" Childrens PTSD and psychological trauma33

" Sexual Assault/Rape of women34

" Winterization of Camps to prepare for harsh conditions

" Proper Water and Sanitation Facilities35

" Sectarian Infighting36

According to the UNHCR Information sharing portal, Oxfam onlyprovides aid to Syrianrefugees in the form of: Water & Sanitation.

37 Although the need for water and sanitary

facilities are very important and shouldnt be downplayed, its unconvincing that these activities

fall under the category of PoC. By Oxfams own definition, the Protection of Civilians

principle refers to the protection of civilians from widespread threats of violence, coercion, and

31(Oxfam International n.d.)

32(Rodrigues 2013)

33(UN Women Inter-Agency Assessment 2013)

34(Joint Research Report: Oxfam International & Abaad-Resource Center for Gender Equality 2013)

35(UNICEF 2013)

36(Brown 2013)

37(UNHCR n.d.)


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the deliberate deprivation of aid.38

Water and sanitation seems more likely to be categorized as

provision for displaced civilians rather than protection of civilians. Oxfam should review

the various definitions used for PoC, and should be more cautious when asserting that they are

participating in PoC efforts because such claims may be inaccurate.

For reference to widely used definitions of PoC please see: ICRCs Strengthening Protection in

War & Professional Standards for Protection Work, ALNAPs Guide to Protection, and

SPHEREs protection chapter.39

38(Oxfam International n.d.)

39(UNHCR n.d.)


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8.1 Syrian Refugee Graph

Source: Original work - Jonathan Leonard. Data from UNHCR. Syria Refugee Response Inter-Agency

Information Sharing Portal. Accessed December 8th. http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php& Mercy

Corps. Quick Facts: What you need to know about the Syrian refugee crisis. October 17th 2013.

http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syrian-

refugee-crisis


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9. Major Challenges to Sustained Personnel Cooperation

Research has determined the most significant challenge that limits effective and integrated

protection of civilians in crises results from the lack of a clear chain of planning, definitions, and

responsibilities.40

The PoC mission building process requires the careful coordination between

military, humanitarian, I/NGOs, and host state governments for action that has clear guidance,

material, support, and able leadership.41

The root of this conceptual confusion stems from

Security Council prioritization of when to, or when not to, act in situations that require PoC

activities for populations under imminent threat. UNSCs selective and inconsistent approach

carries significant weight in influencing international action to protect populations from

violence; their decisions on which crises to give formal attention and resources to determine a

host of additional challenges that this section will further explore.42

One major obstacle this presents is the failure to link the strategic objectives identified in a

UNSC mandate to implementation in the field, due to the absence of how civilian components,namely FPUs and local police units, conceive of their role in a PoC framework.43Until mandates

for all forces, including DPKO, FPU, and local police, are clarified in UNSC authorizations,

there will be a perpetual fragmentation that hinders sustained and effective security for civilians.

Criteria that must be taken into consideration for this include whether UNSC resolutions are

executive or non-executive, and host country capacity, force structure, and government

cooperation.44

FPUs have been identified as a force that may take on an expanded role in PoC activities;

however, a consensus on their responsibilities is yet to be defined. Will FPUs remain under

DPKO policy of crowd control, capacity-building, and UN personnel and facility protection? Orwill they undertake greater risk tasks in PoC activities since they often have better equipment,

training, cohesiveness, and ability to use force (in theory) than local police officers? An

expanded role might weaken host country units from gaining autonomy and strength after their

removal, threatening a long-term security solution. Yet remaining in a DPKO framework limits

their actions during moments of critical response.

Moving beyond the challenge of conceptual confusion that underlies civilian protection by police

units, implementing a program for long-term security faces various obstacles. As it stands, the

UN Police Division determines the role of police in potential missions but faces limited staffing

and planning resources to operate at its desired level. All levels and aspects of police units, from

UN personnel to local units, must be consistently and specifically addressed. Furthermore, a


41ibid p122

42(Cairns 2008) p15


44ibid p122


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10. Possible Collaborations

Oxfam believes in the collective efforts of many actors working in collaboration, and refers to

this concept as a global movement for change. The organization clearly outlines the six basic

tenets of partnership in its partnership principles literature.46

1. Shared Vision and Values - Partnerships between Oxfam and other organizations are

built on a shared vision of a fair world, free of poverty and injustice, which implies

solidarity beyond the implementation of specific programs and activities.

2. Complementarity of Purpose and Value Added- Oxfam works in partnership with a

variety of actors in a diverse set of relationships. Across the partnership continuum, the

emphasis will be placed on identifying the common goal to which we are working,

whether in long- or short-term relationships, looking to build on the distinctive

contribution of all actors, and ensuring that our combined efforts bring about change.

3. Autonomy and Independence - Our partnerships will strive for mutual respect for

institutional integrity and autonomy. We are aware that, in many of our partnerships,

particularly in funding relationships, power imbalances exist that may undermine the

principle of autonomy and independence. Oxfam will work to manage this tension

through our partnering processes and accountability systems.

4. Transparency and Mutual Accountability - Oxfam and partners have multiple

accountabilities to a variety of stakeholders, including supporters and donors, and most

importantly to those women and men living in poverty who are engaged in andbenefitting from our programs. As part of the process of developing partnerships, we

explicitly discuss how Oxfam is accountable to partners, and how we and our partners are

accountable to the people and communities with and for whom we work.

5. Clarity on Roles and Responsibilities - Partnerships are built on clear understanding

and robust partnership agreements. For funding partnerships, all the elements of the

partnering process and decision making are discussed and agreed by partners. Oxfam

understands that the credibility and trust required to sustain healthy partnerships comes

from good communication, competence and reliability.

6. Commitment to Joint Learning - Oxfam, as a learning organization, promotes

continuous and systematic learning. In partnerships, this requires upfront agreement on

how Oxfam and partners can learn from their joint work, and from each other, with the

46(Oxfam International 2012) p1- 4


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aim of incorporating learning, communications and knowledge-sharing into the

relationship.

As a toolbuilding exercise, the team came up with an indexing chart for assessing the feasibility

of collaboration with partner organizations. It creates a quantifies their desirability from

Oxfams perspective by grading each potential partner based on how well they fit Oxfams six

principles of partnership; each principal being individually examined and scored. The scores for

each principal are then summed up in an aggregate figure. This figure can serve as a reference

point for forging future partnerships, as well as assessing the usefulness of existing ones.


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10.1 Oxfam Potential Partnership Index


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11. Campaign Strategies

Oxfam seeks to advance a Protection of Civilians (PoC) framework by publishing a range of

deliverables, including media (press releases, photography, video footage), research reports and

case studies. These are employed in order to increase public awareness of the plight of civilians

in conflict and are used to make policy recommendations to international legal decision-making

bodies.

Media directed towards citizens throughout the world are meant to inform the public about

ongoing human suffering. To a lesser extent, these citizens might contact their local legislators to

ask for action to be taken in the appropriate international arenas.

Case studies and reports support Oxfams advocacy at the United Nations. Through research and

reporting on conflicts throughout the world, Oxfam reminds the Security Council and its member

states of their responsibility to protect vulnerable civilians worldwide. Following thedevelopment of conflicts allows Oxfam to compare on-the-ground information to both the PoC

doctrine as well as the mandates for specific conflict contexts.

Oxfam has advocacy staff in strategic locations worldwide. Offices are tasked with specifically

coordinating advocacy campaigns tailored to their region. For example, the Geneva advocacy

office deals explicitly with political influence at various organizations headquartered there.

Relationships with policy makers are cultivated via face-to-face meetings as well as through the

production and presentation of policy recommendations.

Oxfam created a public petition calling to open discussions on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) andpresented it to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2006 (website

http://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/conflict/controlarms). Their petition strategy led to member

state support for drafting the ATT. In the weeks leading up to ATT negotiations in 2012 and

2013, Oxfam launched a creative public awareness campaign by erecting fake tombstones which

elucidated the heavy violence inflicted by elicit arms trade.47

47(Cairns 2008)


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12. Major Accomplishments & Goals Achieved

Advocacy projects previously run by Oxfam have been successful in promoting protection of

civilians as well as in promoting topics related to PoC. Through its reports and recommendations,

Oxfam has lobbied for Responsibility to Protect (R2P), advising the UN to avoid the recourse to

early military intervention.48In 2005, the R2P doctrine was codified for states to protect

populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and crimes against humanity is an

international commitment by governments to prevent and react to grave crises, wherever they

may occur. This enshrinement paved the way for future inclusion of PoC activities.49

Oxfam has successfully lobbied for the inclusion of PoC language in UNSC peacekeeping

operation mandate. Since the Statement by the President of the Security Council in 1999, PoC

has been repeatedly addressed by the UNSC as an important issue.50

Oxfams greatest advocacy achievement is in its support for the creation of the Arms Trade

Treaty (ATT). Oxfam believes that the uncontrolled spread of arms fuels conflict, undermines

development, and contributes to countless violations of human rights and international

humanitarian law. In the great majority of cases, arms are the tools that inflict violence, coercion

and deprivation on civilians in conflict.51In 2001, Oxfam launched its campaign advocating for

the creation of the ATT and in 2013, the United Nations general assembly voted to draft the

treaty. In addition to public awareness campaigns, Oxfam and its supporters [built] public

support through meetings with legislative officials in several countries.52

Oxfam continues to advocate for policy which explicitly codifies PoC, ensuring the

peacekeeping operations follow their mandates and when they dont, the public is made aware of

inconsistencies.

48(Reindorp n.d.)

49(Cairns 2008) p21

50(UN Security Council 1999)

51(Oxfam 2011)

52(Oxfam 2013)


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13. Policy Recommendations to Ensure the Protection of Civilians

In order to address the wide range of issues which exacerbate the insecurity of civilians in

conflict zones, Oxfam recommends action be taken at varying levels.

At the international level:

Key international stakeholders, such as the various UN departments, UN member states and non-

governmental organizations (NGOs) identified above, must provide an increased, reliable and

predictable funding basis to support regional organizations (discussed below). The UN Security

Council (UNSC) must demonstrate willingness and capacity to deploy mediation and diplomatic

teams at the earliest stages of a foreseeable crisis and protect civilians in new and ongoing crises.

The UNSC needs to act consistently when authorizing the use of force and actively improve UN

peacekeeping operations by enshrining the protection of civilians in mandates. Whether formal

or informal, the UNSC must ensure that mechanisms exist to detect potential conflict so that they

can be discussed at the Council and engaged if necessary. The UN Secretary-General needs to

provide timely and systematic information about threats faced by civilians.

Leading UN Member states, like the United States, must lead efforts to establish a norm for the

protection of civilians in conflict. NGOs must advocate for the protection of civilians both at the

UN as well as to individual member states.

At the regional level:

Regional organizations will play a key role in enforcing the protection of civilians in conflict. In

particular, the African Union must continue its collaborative efforts with the UN and UNSC in

promoting the protection of civilians. Regional organizations need to develop the willingness and

capacity to: deploy mediation and diplomatic teams at the earliest stages of a foreseeable crisis;employ sanctions targeting political and military leaders; use military force to prevent civilians

in exceptional cases. Regional arms control agreements need to be robustly enforced.

Additionally, when the UNSC is stalled because of disagreements between the Permanent five,

regional organizations can address civilian insecurity through their freedom to circumvent the

UNSC and implement various tools of civilian protection.

At the national level:

Individual UN member states, whether hosting conflicts or not, have the primary responsibility

to protect their citizens and should actively work to protect them from conflict and violence

through mediation and diplomacy. The protection of civilians must be given the highest priority

in military strategy. Cultivating economic and financial stability for demobilised fighters and

economically vulnerable groups will reduce the risk of recurring conflict. Ensuring that those

responsible for violence are held accountable will raise social confidence in the government.

Effective management of resources and the effects of climate change will reduce inequality and

underscore peaceful relationships between communities.


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At the local level:

Investment in local capacity is imperative. Local communities must be able to mediate, negotiate

and resolve local conflicts. Local governments need to provide equal access to essential services

(including health, education, water and sanitation) and land and to reduce inequalities between

communities. Local military and police forces need to be at the forefront of ensuring civilian

security and need to work in conjunction with any UN peacekeeping troop or Formed Police

Units that are deployed to their region in order to maintain a secure environment once UN

missions end.53

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14. Our teams Proposal

Our practicum team will provide a thorough policy analysis of various peacekeeping activitiesran by DPKO and mandated by the UNSC. We will identify practices outside of the operational

mandate for each mission and analyze for systemic inconsistencies and patterns. We will submit

recommendations based on our research, as assigned by our client, Oxfam.

Our team offers a variety of skills that could be useful for these activities. We have a diversegroup of self-starters who are dedicated to global change, adherence to rights, standards, and

equity in due process.

Our team is prepared to read, write and speak several languages if documents or interviews arenot available in English. More than one member of our team has fluency in Spanish, French, and

Georgian, Wolof, Fulani, Tuculeur as well as advanced understandings in Egyptian andLevantine Arabic and Turkish.

Our team members have worked in different professional and academic fields and can utilizeskills learned in practice from former projects, including advanced accounting, advanced graphicdesign, and advanced business practice. Many members of the team have worked on human

rights and development projects in the past and have drafted published country briefs, humanrights reports, and written grants and benchmarks for peace-building. Two members of our team

have an in-depth knowledge of resource dependency related conflicts and methods to protectcivilians in that field. Other skills include media analysis, report writing, social media,

entrepreneurship, the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, SPSS, GIS, and a fluency inboth PCs and Macs.


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Bibliography

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oxfam final concept report

Documents