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Support to civilian self-protection efforts
Overview of the Evidence
Our research review includes 4 reports that address the effects of support to civilian self-protection efforts on closely related outcomes, such as civilian killings, human rights violations, and conflict recurrence. We did not find any studies meeting our inclusion criteria that addressed the effects of support to civilian self-protection efforts on mass atrocities. Our research review found the following:
- A mix of findings as to whether support to civilian self-protection efforts was effective in helping prevent mass atrocities or closely related outcomes,
- Limited evidence on which specific factors contribute to the effectiveness of support to civilian self-protection efforts in helping prevent mass atrocities or closely related outcomes, and
- No factors with at least 2 findings about their association with the effectiveness of support to civilian self-protection efforts, which is why we do not provide a Success Factors tab for this tool.
About Support to civilian self-protection efforts
Definition
Civilian self-protection efforts include “any activities that conflict-affected communities undertake with the intention of countering, mitigating, deterring or avoiding a threat” (Gorur 2013, p. 4). Governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations can support these efforts through advice, funding, or the provision of material goods.
Theory of Change
If support to civilian self-protection creates new obstacles to attacking civilian populations, that support would reduce the likelihood of mass atrocities. If support to civilian self-protection efforts allows civilian populations to evade mass atrocities, withstand attacks, or take other steps to prevent imminent harm, it would reduce the severity of mass atrocities.