Briefing Paper

Disrupting Cycles of Violence in Africa Unlocking Complex Dimensions of Human Security

Complex dimensions of human security is unlocked when the matrix of domination is disrupted, that feeds the systemic inequality and poverty in violence ridden societies. Self-reproducing cycles of chronic violence, driven by a multifaceted combination of structural and interpersonal factors, undermine any efforts to achieve such security. A range of negotiation processes is discussed in this policy brief that can mobilize communities to engage in social actions that supply in their own security and peace-making needs. The discussion generates crucial insights and knowledge that may inform and strengthen community-based ‘whole-of-society’ strategies for the prevention of violence and its gendered dynamics.