Saferworld has been active in the Caucasus since 1999. It aims to support a more people-centred approach to analysing and responding to regional conflicts. Saferworld is working with conflict-affected communities across the region to help them better articulate their safety concerns, plan solutions to their problems and develop more constructive relationships with the security providers. To this end, Saferworld, together with local partners, has established volunteer community networks in various conflict contexts in the region (eastern Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Shida Kartli, and most recently in Armenia and Azerbaijan). These community-based networks serve as focal points for the disempowered communities to mobilise, develop new skills, gain confidence in dealing with local problems and engage constructively with local authority structures to find joint solutions. Saferworld conducts annual community perception surveys in both Shida Kartli and eastern Abkhazia, which provide unique quantitative and qualitative information on the perceptions of security and insecurity within the region and serve as important tools for advocacy on local needs. Saferworld has also conducted cutting-edge participatory research into the security needs of the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline communities and the drivers of conflict across the North Caucasus.
For more on Saferworld, please visit the website: saferworld.org.uk
Civil Society Institute (CSI) is a well-known Yerevan-based NGO, which aims to assist and promote the establishment of free and democratic society in Armenia. Established in 1998, CSI is an Armenian member organisation of the Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Since its founding, CSI has worked on and continues to carry out programs revolving around the following initiatives: civil society development, penal system reform, human rights advocacy and awareness, peace building and conflict resolution, freedom of information and anti-corruption, youth empowerment, secondary education reform, advocacy and lobbying. The activities of CSI are geared towards increasing the efficacy of governmental bodies as well as non-governmental organizations while simultaneously supporting the development of civil society.
For more on CSI, please visit their website: csi.am
Humanitarian Research Public Union (former Society for Humanitarian Research) is a well-established Baku-based NGO and think-tank, which aims to promote democratic development through assisting citizen participation and protection of human rights and freedoms. Since 1997 the Humanitarian Research Public Union has promoted human rights issues with a special focus on internal displacement. HRPU is closely linked with displaced communities, providing a wide variety of training, legal advice and support for displaced persons. It is also the Azerbaijani national coordinator of the South Caucasus Documentary Film festival Nationality: Human.
For more on HRPU please see: http://shr-az.com/
