part of the Clingendael Security and Conflict Programme Conflict Research Unit

Research

More information:

For more information, please contact Steven SchoofsSend e-mail

ASCI: Aids, Security and Conflict Initiative

The AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative (ASCI) is a global research initiative to inform policy and programming by strengthening the evidence base and addressing critical gaps in knowledge across several thematic areas:

  1. HIV/AIDS in uniformed services, including military, peacekeeping and policing
  2. HIV/AIDS, humanitarian crises and post-conflict transitions
  3. HIV/AIDS, fragile and crisis states
  4. Cross-cutting issues of gender, data collection & measurement, and media representation

ASCI has been convened by the Netherlands Institute of International Relations "Clingendael" and the Social Science Research Council with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Agency for International Development, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNAIDS. Within Clingendael, the Conflict Research Unit (CRU) coordinates research concerning the first two thematic areas: the uniformed services on the one hand and humanitarian crisis and post-conflict transitions on the other.

While the worst fears about threats posed by HIV/AIDS to peace and security in (post-) conflict settings have not been realised, neither have the myriad challenges posed by the pandemic been resolved. These include the issue of managing HIV/AIDS within the military and peacekeeping operations as well as AIDS policies and programmes in relation to security sector reforms, policing and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration activities.

Recognizing the complex relationship between HIV/AIDS and humanitarian crisis, ASCI aims to assess how HIV risks may be altered in post-conflict situations, with a specific focus on the role of sexual violence in HIV transmission. In addition, ASCI research is concerned with the particular challenges of establishing and implementing HIV/AIDS policies and programmes in situations of state crisis.

Key activities within ASCI include an inventory of existing research and data; commissioning new research, organising expert and peer review meetings and publicizing a working paper series with key research findings as well as a final policy report.

Reports, publications and more information can be found on the ASCI website.


© 2003-2012 Clingendael Institute