The International Crisis Group is an independent organisation working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world.
Crisis Group sounds the alarm to prevent deadly conflict. We build support for the good governance and inclusive politics that enable societies to flourish. We engage directly with a range of conflict actors to seek and share information, and to encourage intelligent action for peace.
Our work is urgently needed as the world is confronted with both new and chronic existing conflicts, each of which has devastating humanitarian, social and economic costs. Efforts to resolve conflicts are complicated by the profound shift in geopolitics, as well as the increasing prominence of non-state actors ranging from religious militants to criminal gangs.
See our introductory brochure: Preventing War. Shaping Peace.
In this more polarised, fragmented and dangerous world, Crisis Group’s work points a way forward. War is not inevitable; it is a man-made disaster. We must mobilise political leaders to heed early warnings and take early action to avoid looming conflicts. And we must build more creative and flexible frameworks for international diplomacy.
The consequences of inaction are too great:
- For the first time ever, the number of people displaced due to conflict and persecution surpassed 100 million in May 2022.
- War and civil strife drive most refugees from the top five source countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
- One third of Ukraine’s population has fled fighting since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Europe’s largest movement of people since World War II.
- An estimated 120,648 people were killed in conflicts in 2021.
Sources: UNHCR (2021), Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2021)