Harnessing vulnerabilities for unarmed community self-protection

This chapter focuses on harnessing vulnerabilities for protection based on the central role of selected social agents and collective actors including women, youth, the elderly, internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities (PWDs), and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, within the context of research on unarmed civilian protection (UCP). The chapter draws on findings from participatory research projects in Cameroon, the Philippines, and Colombia. It looks at different forms of vulnerability and how vulnerability is created and can vary in differing contexts. It equally examines the nexus between vulnerabilities and overall UCP processes in different conflict contexts and selected case studies, focussing specifically on community self-protection. It explores the extent to which measures are taken (or not) to protect vulnerable groups within the community, the extent to which vulnerable people are actively involved in protecting themselves and others, and mitigation and coping strategies employed by these vulnerable groups within communities and countries plagued by violent conflicts. Particular attention and emphasis are laid on exploring the role of women, youth, the elderly, PWDs, IDPs, and LGBTQ+ among persons who may not have or play any formal role when it comes to community protection institutional frameworks and processes.