Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

Completed in December 2009

The rapid move of post-conflict peacebuilding towards the top of the international political agenda has been accompanied by added scrutiny, as the international community seeks to meet the multi-dimensional challenges of building a just and sustainable peace in societies ravaged by war.

Beyond the strictly operational dimension, there is considerable ambiguity in the concepts and terminology used to discuss post-conflict peacebuilding. This tends to undermine efforts to agree on common understandings of how peace can be most effectively 'built', thereby impeding swift, coherent action.

This research project, supervised by the Geneva Academy in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva, European Institute of the University of Geneva, School of Translation and Interpretation of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, therefore aimed to clarify the multiple facets of post-conflict peacebuilding.

Research Team

Coordinated by Professor Vincent Chetail, it brought together 34 experts of worldwide reputation from various disciplines.

OUTPUT

The project’s findings resulted in the publication of an instructive and practical lexicon, Post-Conflict Peacebuilding (Oxford University Press, 2009), intended for a broad audience, including international and national civil servants, diplomats, practitioners, journalists, academics, researchers, students and any person concerned by post-conflict peacebuilding.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

disops News

Impact of digital disinformation unpacked in new research brief series

9 April 2025

Our new series of Research Briefs examine the impact of digital disinformation and potential solutions for its regulation

Read more

bombed building News

Expert Consultation on CESCR’s General Comment on ICESCR in Armed Conflict

8 May 2025

The Geneva Academy convened an expert consultation on the CESCR’s General Comment on the Application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Situations of Armed Conflict.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

A session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

IHL Expert Pool

Started in January 2022

The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.

Read more

Screenshot of the RULAC webpage Project

Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC)

Started in May 2007

The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Navigating Pathways Toward Transitional Justice in Ukraine

published on October 2024

Robin van der Lugt, Chhime Namdol Sherpa

Read more