Our activities

Insecurity Insight runs and has supported a wide variety of projects. The common thread throughout these is a commitment to supporting a world in which civilians are protected from violence in armed conflict through the use of data and evidence.

Past Projects

Attacks on Journalists – IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists is campaigning to end the impunity of threats and attacks against journalists and is calling for a UN Convention to Protect Journalists. This campaign work is based on the knowledge that hundreds of journalists have been killed in recent years whilst carrying out their work. Between 2012-2014, Insecurity Insight supported the International Federation of Journalists in working on monitoring on attacks on journalists.

Health Care in Danger – ICRC

In 2011 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched the Health Care in Danger project to highlight and address violence against patients and health workers. The decision to start the campaign was based on the data presented in the 16 country study prepared by Insecurity Insight. Between 2008 -2011, Insecurity Insight founding members Christina, Robin and Nathan worked for the ICRC setting up a system for collecting, processing and analysing attacks on health care based on open sources and contributions from the ICRC delegations.

Civilian causalities from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas – AOAV

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) monitors civilians killed and injured by explosive weapons and raises awareness of the plight for civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). Between 2009-2010, Insecurity Insight helped Landmine Action UK – which later became AOAV – to set up the Explosive Weapons Monitor that has operated since 2011.

Sexual Violence during elections – AFW

Aids-Free World uses high-level advocacy, strategic communications, and creative legal approaches, to address gender equality as a root cause of the HIV pandemic. In 2008 and 2009, Insecurity Insight founding member Nathan Taback worked with Aids-Free World to set up a system to systematically analyse the testimonies of rape victims affiliated with the opposition movement during the election campaign in Zimbabwe. Using this method, Aids-free World was able to generate sound evidence that these rapes were both widespread and systematic based on the striking patterns that demonstrates that the incidents were unlikely to be coincidental.

Sexual Violence in Conflict – Alliance DARC

In 2006, the Alliance for Direct Action against Rape in conflict and Crises (Alliance DARC) was launched in Geneva with the aim to bring practical help to women who suffered from sexual violence in conflict. In 2007, Insecurity Insight Director Christina Wille supported Alliance DARC in the development of a monitoring framework for incidents of sexual violence in conflict.

Surveillance System of Attacks on Healthcare SSA – WHO

Since 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has run the Surveillance System of Attacks on Healthcare, a global standardized and systemic approach to collecting data of attacks on health care. WHO Country Offices work closely with partners to ensure there is a wide and inclusive range of reporting contributors. Insecurity Insight Director Christina Wille supported the development of the system through advice and suggested data categorization following World Health Assembly Resolution 65.20 mandating the WHO to monitor such attacks.

Risk and Threat Assessment – SecuraXis

SecuraXis supports organisations in their duty of care by providing supervision and monitoring technology that helps to mitigate risk during staff travel. Insecurity Insight supported SexuraXis with on demand security analyses for selected travel destinations.

Disarmament and Security Challenges

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Affairs (UNIDIR) works on arms control and disarmament with a view to contributing to conflict prevention and promoting the development of a peaceful and prosperous world. Through its conventional arms programme, UNIDIR has addressed explosive weapons use in populated areas (EWIPA) and urban violence. Insecurity Insight Director Christina Wille has supported UNIDIR’s work in this field through various studies. This includes co-authoring the UNIDIR’s Reference Framework providing a Menu of Indicators to Measure the Reverberating Effects on Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

Security Incident Information Management – RedR UK

We collaborated with RedR UK on the Security Incident Information Management (SIIM) project.

RedR UK provides training and technical support to NGOs, aid workers and communities responding to natural and man-made disasters all over the world.