In this short documentary, journalist and filmmaker Rob Asher visits AOAV’s demining camps in Western Sahara and follows Mariem Zaid and her team of mine clearance operators in their work securing 72 million square metres of land.   AOAV started work in Western Sahara in 2006 and was the first organisation to conduct a survey into the extent of landmines, cluster bombs […]

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) conducts field-based programming in support of its mission to reduce the incidence and impact of armed violence globally. Utilizing experience and knowledge gained from its research, policy-work, and fieldwork, AOAV conducts evidence-based programming in five countries in West, Central, and North Africa – Burundi, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Western […]

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Around the world, 1.5 billion people live in a place affected by conflict or violence, waiting, often for decades, for something more than a temporary respite from death and destruction. A definite end to conflict, however, is difficult to achieve. While negotiated endings, such as ceasefires and peace settlements, are rightly celebrated, the history of recent conflicts, […]

Ahmed Mohamed Sidi Aly has been a crucial part of AOAV’s Western Sahara programme since April 2006. During his last visit in London, we’ve asked him about his every-day challenges, AOAV’s work in Western Sahara and the country’s persistent struggles. AOAV: As AOAV’s country manager in Western Sahara, what do you do? Ahmed: My work starts from the strategic […]

Julie Claveau joined AOAV in June 2013 and specialises in peace-building in Burundi. She previously worked with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo implementing armed violence reduction and humanitarian mine action projects. In a nutshell, what’s your job? I’ll be supervising and growing the programme in Burundi. Currently, we have two branches […]

Despite achieving significant progress on peace and stability in the decade following the civil war, insecurity and violence still persist in Sierra Leone. This was confirmed by our latest report that represents findings of a 2012 nationwide baseline assessment of armed violence in Sierra Leone. The survey shows that interpersonal violence, e.g. fights, threats, intimidation, assault and beatings, […]

Paul Murphy Executive Director of Safer World Saferworld is a UK based NGO working to improve security and achieve lasting peace. They look to cut across issues of development, peace building and the rule of law. Evidence and experience from their in-country programmes is used to make recommendations to international policy makers. Paul Murphy was […]

Andreas Kamm Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council The Danish Demining Group is a unit of the Danish Refugee Council responsible for carrying out humanitarian demining and armed violence reduction. Their programmes include firearms safety training, supporting local conflict resolution and strengthening relationships between police and communities. They work in a range of countries […]