Eliminating the risks posed by armed groups to build and sustain peace
The objective of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Branch, working through teams and individual experts in field locations, is to positively impact the security and stability in conflict and post-conflict environments. DDR processes deal directly with members of armed groups, encouraging them to lay down their weapons, leave the group and reintegrate into society. Transitioning from combatant to civilian can be daunting and potentially unappealing, especially where a civilian lifestyle may be less economically beneficial. In order to address this, DDR provides socio-economic support to assist ex-combatants, including education and opportunities for employment through the reintegration process. DDR views each individual as a stakeholder in the peace process and a potential agent of change.
DDR supports the organic development of peace through the collective will of the people to pursue peaceful co-existence and reconciliation. DDR programmes should occur under certain pre-conditions, such as the signing of a peace agreement or minimum security on the ground. However, the United Nations is often called upon to assist in tackling violence in a variety of situations, where these prerequisites are not present.
In such cases, the DDR community utilizes alternative approaches, including community violence reduction (CVR), implemented in support of DDR in localities vulnerable to instability, in order to emphasize community engagement as a means to prevent the escalation of violence, and more broadly, to create the necessary conditions for a DDR programme. CVR aims to impact not only members of armed groups, but also youth at risk of recruitment, former combatants who participate in DDR, and members of communities likely to receive former combatants. The programmes encompass a range of initiatives, designed to train individuals to become productive, selfsustaining members of society, as well as reducing potential triggers of violence.
Another approach in the DDR toolbox is weapons and ammunition management (WAM), which focuses on arms management within communities and is predominantly used to stem the influx of weapons and their accessibility. DDR, CVR and WAM are components of a larger process to manage armed groups and ultimately lead to their peaceful and orderly dissolution.
DDR in the field
Throughout its engagement in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA has supported a comprehensive approach linking pre-DDR support, community violence reduction (CVR), and the national disarmament, demobilization reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) programme. The Mission adapted its interventions to changing security and political conditions, combining support to eligible ex-combatatnts through the national DDRR programme with targeted assistance to at-risk youth, individuals associated with armed groups who did not qualify for formal DDRR, women and conflict-affected communities.
To mitigate violence and stregthen community resilience, MINUSCA implemented a wide range of CVR activities, including vocational training, cash-for-work schemes, agricultural livelihoods, support to small economic intiatives, rehabilitations of community infrastructure, dialogue and mediation initiatives, and voluntary weapons collection activities. These interventions promoted social cohesion, improved relations between communities and former members of armed groups, and created conditions conducive to sustainable reintegration.
"In the Central African Republic, DDR delivers measurable peace dividends by reinforcing community resilience and restoring social cohesion. Each weapon surrendered expands civic space and enables communities to shift their focus towards sustainable development after years of ravage and despair."
Inter-agecy working group on DDR
The DDR Section’s efforts to contribute to stability and security are supported by the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on DDR. The Group was established in 2005 to improve the United Nations’ performance in the area of DDR. It aims to optimize DDR contributions to peacebuilding and recovery as the foremost global networking source for the development of DDR policy and practice. It serves as a dynamic force, offering adaptable and innovative options to the DDR community in current and future peacebuilding efforts. Since its founding, it has grown to be comprised of 25 United Nations entities and is chaired by DPO and UNDP. The IAWG serves as a custodian of the global Integrated DDR Standards.