Addressing Psychological Effects of Armed Conflicts and Violence

Armed conflicts and violence give rise to great mental health and psychosocial challenges among millions of men, women, boys and girls around the world. The humanitarian impact is extensive; not only affecting the individuals directly but also whole communities, populations and societies. While needs are currently increasing, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is still not a priority in the field of humanitarian intervention. To improve humanitarian responses to mental health and psychosocial needs in contexts of armed conflict and violence, better understanding of the challenges is necessary.

We hereby pledge to:

• contribute to mobilising greater global attention to the psychological effects of armed conflicts and violence with the aim to gain further recognition of the humanitarian impact;
• engage in and support activities aiming at better understanding the psychological consequences and the needs of those affected (e.g. research);
• together with affected persons and communities, support and further develop activities and methods to address the psychological effects;
• contribute to strengthening the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s collective capability and capacity to respond effectively to mental health and psychosocial needs.

Action plan

Proposed evaluation criteria

• The signatories have engaged in communication activities to raise awareness on the needs and challenges linked to the psychological consequences of armed conflict and violence.
• Seminars and meetings with concerned stakeholders have been organized at national and international level with the aim to raise awareness, exchange experiences and to develop adequate response.
• Additional National Societies and States have signed the pledge and committed to engage in addressing psychological effects of armed conflicts and violence.
• The signatories have carried out a mapping of the current situation in their respective country with the aim to better understand the needs and challenges. 
• The understanding of needs and challenges has been improved through research, sharing of practices, tools and lessons learned from field operations, and through the training of staff and volunteers.
• The signatories have initiated and developed activities and methods to address psychological effects of armed conflicts and violence.
• The psychological impact on staff and volunteers working in contexts of armed conflict and violence has been recognized and addressed by States and humanitarian actors.
•  The signatories have allocated additional technical and financial resources to enhance the Movements capacity to address the psychological consequences of armed conflicts and violence.