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How can you maintain your connection with home? Peacebuilding specialists working in the field often have to cope with difficult living conditions. They are also separated from their families and friends for long periods of time. The 4/17 edition of SPS looks at how to maintain contact between the mission and home base over distance and time.
The 2011 protest movements and uprisings triggered lengthy processes with uncertain outcomes in the countries of North Africa. What is left today of what was dubbed the 'Arab Spring'? What foreign policy should Switzerland pursue in this region? This SPS provides an overview of the transition in North Africa and explains how Switzerland promotes peaceful change in the region.
In view of the armed conflicts facing the world today, the international community is being challenged more than ever before. This edition, entitled ‘International humanitarian law places limits on the conduct of war’, examines the internationally binding rules of warfare and demonstrates how this can be used to protect civilians in the Middle East and Ukraine, and to help child soldiers in the Philippines.
This edition explores the frequently underestimated but crucial topic of ‘equipment and logistics in Switzerland’s peacebuilding activities’. A glimpse behind the scenes shows how important logistics are in both civilian and military missions and how challenges are met.
This issue showcases career prospects and opportunities in civilian and military peacebuilding. The information service cinfo, the Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding and the SWISSINT training centre give us their perspective on what it takes to have a successful career in peacebuilding. Flexibility is the key to starting out in this profession, where most opportunities involve short-term missions on temporary contracts.
The illegal arms trade and human security are the themes of this edition with a specific focus on the new Arms Trade Treaty, the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons, and the secure storage and destruction of weapons and munitions. Switzerland supports all efforts in this area, especially in those regions where the uncontrolled handling of weapons is threatening security and stability.
The current issue of SPS throws a spotlight on the crisis of Europe's security architecture with analyses and articles about expert deployments in the hotspots in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. Other topics include the security sector reform as part of the peace process in Mali and the significance of human rights in the migration flows in southern Europe.
This edition is dedicated to the subject of prevention – in terms of health and security – for people working in peacebuilding missions. For these experts involved on the ground, both physical and mental factors are important to maintaining a healthy balance between work and free time, and to carrying out missions successfully. This edition also looks at the issue of gender within the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine and the experience of the OAS in demobilising the different armed groups in Colombia.
The edition features the theme dealing with the past, a field where Switzerland has been actively involved since 2000. Colombia, Kosovo, Chad are only three examples of countries where Switzerland is working to fight impunity and prevent atrocities. The end of this year also marks the deployment of the 10,000th peacekeeper by the Swiss Armed Forces.
This new issue celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of the journal Swiss Peace Supporter. To mark the occasion, this edition revisits the biggest milestones in the journal's history. Serving and retired specialists recall their rich field experience and the difficulties they encountered, and review the challenges ahead.
This issue focuses on the implementation of Resolution 1325, which is devoted to the participation of women in peace processes and was adopted 15 years ago. It contains accounts by Swiss experts on the challenges that lie ahead and the wide-ranging fields of activity affected by the issue of gender in conflicts – whether in police, civilian or military missions.
This edition focuses on the development of conflicts and the new challenges for peace support. You find articles on conflicts linked to the extraction of raw materials, military peace promotion in the Middle East, and the role of non-state organizations. In addition, the other sections in this publication provide you with a unique insight into the work of our specialists.
Last update 26.01.2022