The Future of Protection of Civilians: Research-Practitioner Seminar Series
Join us for an interactive online seminar series based on cutting-edge research on the protection of civilians, recently published by the International Peace Institute (IPI) and partially funded by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and the Challenges Forum.
Bringing together senior international researchers with policymakers and practitioners from across Team Sweden, the seminar series provides a forum for evidence-based exchange on emerging gaps and trends in protection of civilians and their operational relevance.
Format
This series of five one-hour seminars will take place online on Teams during April–May 2026. The seminars are purposefully scheduled once a week around noon CEST, to enable busy colleagues to participate. Feel free to join us over lunch!
Each seminar is focused on one of the recent IPI issue briefs on the protection of civilians. A facilitated discussion will be held with the author of the brief together with a practitioner from the FBA, the Challenges Forum and other organisations.
In order to promote in-depth discussions, participants are encouraged to read the relevant short issue brief before the seminar. However, please do join us even if you haven’t had time to read the brief.
Goal
The goal of the seminar series is to deepen knowledge of current research on the protection of civilians and explore how lessons identified in research can be applied in practice.
Sign up
To join the seminars, contact Zahra.Nayabi@fba.se for Teams-links and calendar invites.
Date, time and topics
15 April
12.00-13.00: Community-Led Unarmed Civilian Protection: Expanding beyond UN-Led Protection - Rachel Julian & Berit Bliesemann de Guevara
22 April
12.00-13.00: Civilian Perceptions and Protection of Civilians by Peacekeepers: Integrating Local Views into Robust Peace Operations - Linnéa Gelot & Prabin B. Khadka
29 April
10.00-11.00: Protection of Civilians by Police in UN Peace Operations – Charles T. Hunt
6 May
12.00-13.00: Political Solutions to Political Problems: UN Peacekeeping Operations and Dialogue-Based Protection of Civilians in Communal Conflicts – Allard Duursma
12 May
12.00-13.00: Protection of Civilians in Partnership Peacekeeping - Corinne Bara
Recordings
The seminars will be recorded for internal communication only, i.e. for later viewing by FBA staff and secondees. If you prefer not to appear in a recording, please let us know before or at the seminar.
Please feel free to share this invitation with interested colleagues from Team Sweden.