peacebuilding

[ pees-bil-ding ]

noun

1. an approach to humanitarian aid work with a primary focus on reducing or preventing violent conflict by building and supporting stable political and cultural institutions (often used attributively):

   The organization promotes peacebuilding as a way to resolve injustice in nonviolent ways.

   Our hope is that more governments will deploy peacebuilding approaches and resources when responding to conflict.

Other Words From

• peace·build·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of peacebuilding¹

First recorded in 1905–10; peace ( def ) + building ( def )

Example Sentences

Women in Somalia - which has suffered a long civil war and a more recent Islamist insurgency - have long played a vital role in peacebuilding, often stepping into leadership roles and pushing for greater political participation.

From BBC

Topher L. McDougal is a professor of economic development and peacebuilding at the University of San Diego.

From Los Angeles Times

He held a variety of roles there, but among his contributions was pioneering the organization’s peacebuilding work in Central America.

From Seattle Times

Trevor Samuel John Douglas, general manager at Belfast Cathedral - for services to peacebuilding and to the community in Northern Ireland.

From BBC

Undoubtedly, attempts will be made in the coming months to use the Security Council to press for a permanent cease-fire, for Israeli action to bring a halt to escalatory actions such as settler violence, for an end to movement restrictions, and even for the deployment of an international peacebuilding and stabilization mission on the ground.

From Slate