Starts in 1 week: Meet the global facilitators leading our Unarmed Civilian Defense course
Dear John,
Across the world, militarism and military spending are rising — and peace is too often treated as naïve, unrealistic, or secondary. As wars expand, authoritarianism deepens, and “military-first” thinking becomes normalized, societies are pushed toward a dangerous assumption: that security requires weapons.
That assumption is reinforced every day — through war, occupation, repression, displacement, and the growing militarization of borders and policing. From the ongoing genocide against Palestinians, to the war in Ukraine, to U.S.-backed pressure for regime change in Venezuela, and to the intensification of immigration enforcement in the United States (including ICE operations), where militarized security logics are increasingly applied to civilian life, these are only a few visible examples of a much wider global pattern playing out across regions worldwide — in different forms, at different intensities, and with devastating human, geopolitical, economic, and environmental consequences.
But there is another path. Around the world, people and movements have long developed nonviolent, civilian-led alternatives for protecting communities and resisting violence. One of the most important — and too often overlooked — is Unarmed Civilian Defense (UCD).
World BEYOND War's upcoming online course offers a practical opportunity to explore these alternatives in depth — through real-world cases, strategy, and dialogue across regions.
This course explores how organized, strategic people power can help communities prevent escalation, protect civilians, and resist violence — without war or weapons.
One of the strongest parts of this course is the opportunity to learn from a globally diverse facilitation team — combining scholarship, field experience, and movement-based work across regions and contexts.
Module 1 (Feb 2–8): Dr. Oseremen Irene (Nigeria)
Dr. Oseremen Irene is a Board Member of World BEYOND War and a professor, trainer, and peace and conflict studies expert. He lectures at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Nigeria) and brings extensive experience bridging research and practical peacebuilding.
Module 2 (Feb 9–15): Dr. Dalilah A. Shemia-Goeke (Germany)
Dr. Dalilah A. Shemia-Goeke is a researcher, trainer, and podcaster specializing in nonviolent resistance, social defense, and strategic movements. She previously worked as a peace and conflict consultant in Jerusalem and focuses on making nonviolent strategy accessible beyond traditional peace circles.
🎥 Short video: Dr. Dalilah A. Shemia-Goeke reflects on why nonviolent resistance and social defense must be understood as strategic, organized alternatives to militarized security.
👉 Watch (1 min): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lsrAFTwBMGo
Module 3 (Feb 16–22): Dr. Sellah N. King’oro (Kenya)
Dr. Sellah N. King’oro is a Board Member of World BEYOND War, a peace and security specialist, and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She has contributed to reconciliation and dialogue processes across multiple African contexts and mentors emerging peace and security leaders. 🎥 Short video: Dr. Sellah N. King’oro reflects on how the course offers practical guidance on the concrete actions individuals and organizations can take to advance the vision, values, and practices of protecting and defending communities from violence — without resorting to violence.
👉 Watch (2 min): https://my-video.bigvu.tv/697974f442169014d6263bd9/69797a9b42169014d6268d6e
Module 4 (Feb 23–Mar 1): Dr. Christine Schweitzer (Germany)
Dr. Christine Schweitzer is a long-time researcher and practitioner in nonviolence, social defense, and unarmed civilian protection. She co-founded the Institute for Peace Work and Nonviolent Conflict Transformation (IFGK) and has supported civil society interventions in violent conflicts for decades.
🎥 Short video: Dr. Christine Schweitzer shares reflections from decades of research and practice in nonviolence, social defense, and civilian protection.
👉 Watch (1 min): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KIqw9SVhIa8
Module 5 (Mar 2–8): Mohammed M. A. Abunahel (Palestine)
Mohammed M. A. Abunahel is a Palestinian journalist, researcher, and peace activist focusing on media, conflict, and nonviolent resistance. He contributes to World BEYOND War’s No Bases campaign and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism in India.
Module 6 (Mar 9–15): Dr. Phill Gittins (United Kingdom)
Dr. Phill Gittins is Education Director at World BEYOND War, with over 20 years of experience in peacebuilding, education and training, youth and community work, and counselling and psychotherapy. He is the course coordinator.
Another key strength of this course is the chance to learn alongside people from different countries, contexts, and backgrounds — including educators, activists, peacebuilders, researchers, journalists, and community leaders. Through discussion forums and optional live dialogues, participants exchange perspectives, share experiences, and explore what nonviolent civilian defense can look like in real-world situations.
If you are looking for a serious, practical learning space focused on nonviolent alternatives to militarized security, you are warmly invited to join us.
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