Unarmed civilian protection (UCP) is a powerful and effective nonviolent strategy. As described by Nonviolent Peaceforce, “UCP protects civilians from violence through use of a range of methods, including protective accompaniment and protective presence, community-led safety and security initiatives such as early-warning early response mechanisms, civilians protecting one another through Women and Youth Protection Teams, conflict de-escalation techniques, civilian ceasefire and peace agreement monitoring, the establishment of weapons-free zones – and much more.”
Pax Christi USA was recently contacted by our friend Mel Duncan, co-founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce, who is currently in the West Bank, along with Palestinian activists Amira Musallam and Sami Awad with Unarmed Civilian Protection in Palestine (UCPiP). They write:
“Many [Pax Christi members] have provided accompaniment, unarmed civilian protection (UCP), and protective presence in some dangerous places. Your solidarity has displaced despair with hope, supported the peacemakers of the land and saved lives.
“Now we are asking you to join us in one of the toughest assignments of your life, with little reward and huge consequences. Come and stand in the way of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the West Bank.
“As you know, we are part of UCP in Palestine (UCPiP), working to expand and strengthen protective presence, accompaniment, and unarmed civilian protection (UCP) across Palestine. This initiative stems directly from the recommendations outlined in our Assessment Report (September 2024), which emphasizes the urgent need to deploy skilled UCP practitioners in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and, when conditions allow, in Gaza.
“We are pleased to share an update:
- Cohort 1 has completed their three-month deployment in the Jordan Valley. Their presence has been a vital source of support and protection for local communities. People were able to stay home and no one in the village was injured
- Cohort 2 finished their training and now is hard at work in Ras al Auja where they will continue through December
“UCPiP teams have been successfully working side by side with the community to keep settlers from overrunning their homes and the village. One indicator of success comes every morning when we see the children walking peacefully to school.
“UCPiP is now building up its teams for 2026.
“This is part of UCPiP long-term goal: building toward a mission of at least 100 highly trained UCP personnel while also strengthening existing UCP organizations in Palestine.
“If you, or experienced members of your networks, are interested in joining this pilot project as part of a future cohort, we invite you to indicate your interest (without commitment) by using this link. (Please fill this out again even if you registered last spring.)
“What to expect:
- Full-time deployment for three months in Palestine.
- Work grounded in community-participatory approaches.
- Training in UCP methodology, de-escalation, accompaniment, first aid and trauma-informed care. You will also be updated on the historical and political context.
- Close coordination with Palestinian partners and solidarity networks.
- Rigorous evaluation to inform future scaling.
- All expenses covered, insurance and stipend provided.
“Your skills, experience, and solidarity are greatly appreciated to help UCPiP continue to build a protective presence where it is needed most and respond to the urgent calls from Palestinian communities for international solidarity and protection and to help jam up the gears of genocide.”
Use this link to indicate your interest with UCPiP.
Please note: This is not a Pax Christi USA program; please send any questions or concerns to UCP in Palestine at info@ucpip.org.