"The role of diasporas for the reduction and prevention of armed violence" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Geneva, Switzerland | 8-9 July 2014

1. Role of the Diaspora in
Violence-affected situations:
case of CRC in DRC & UK
by Ben Mussanzi wa Mussangu
C.R.C BRADFORD

2. Biblical case: Nehemiah: ancient
Diaspora member
-He received information from original
land > moved into tears > advocacy
with decision maker > Action =
rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem
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Introduction

3. Learning Outcomes:
-To showcase the role/added values of
Diaspora involvement in Armed
Violence Reduction & Prevention
(AVRP) using CRC case
-To give key dimensions of the role that
Diaspora can play
-Factors of success/failure for the D to
play their role
-Key learning, gaps, Needs for action &
conclusion
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4. The Diaspora is supposed:
- to know the importance of AVRP from
the experience (being victim of small
arms)
- to build on their own experience: Ben:
nearly killed > opportunity for starting
CRC > Reference : Peace Direct's book
“Unarmed Heroes”
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Advantage:

5. -In Violence Affected Situations:
1st actors MUST BE people from the
community (civil driven change),
but they need to have inspiration/vision
(example: US social movement)
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Key learning:

6. 4) Gaps:
-ignorance of their role > no ideas
-Some have ideas, but don't know from where
to start > these are to support
-Others don't care about Land 1 or Land 2
(refugee status is enough)
-Others just complain (against the government
in L1, or D members who succeed etc)
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3) Key learnings:

7. The Diaspora needs:
- support emotionally (TH) and financially
-Partnership
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Need for action:
Partnership

8. Conclusion
Diaspora can play a major & positive role, if
they are:
- informed (trained),
-supported
-and work in partnership with others.
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9. Recommended reference
International Alert, 2012, “VOICES ACROSS
BORDERS: Policy makers & Diasporas in the
UK working for peace and development”,
London: Research report
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10. Q&A + contacts
Many thanks for listening:
Any comments E:
crc_bradford@yahoo.com
www.cr-conflict.org
07500410772
C.R.C BRADFORD