Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) Brief 04/2016 DDR and community based integration – how to mitigate stigmatisation of former combatants

Since the early 1990s, DDR programmes (Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of former combatants and other persons associated with armed forces or groups) have increasingly been part of peace support operations and peace building interventions around the world. This brief discusses the concept of community based integration and highlights the importance of putting the community itself in the driver seat for the integration process. Though not without serious challenges, such an approach to (re)integration in some contexts promise to decrease levels of recidivism.