We arrive at this holiday season in the midst of unprecedented global violence. There are more armed conflicts ongoing today than at any other point since World War II. Civilians are particularly vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence (as in Ukraine) and systematic violence against ethnic, racial, and religious groups (as in Sudan).
The United States can and must do more to prevent, mitigate, and respond to violent conflict. As Congress negotiates the final spending packages for fiscal year 2025, FCNL urges the robust funding of three key peacebuilding accounts (The Complex Crises Fund, the Reconciliation Programs Fund, and the Atrocity Prevention Fund) in the final State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) Appropriations Bill.
Addressing the global challenge of violent conflict not only reduces suffering but also supports long-term stability and sustainable peace.
Addressing the global challenge of violent conflict not only reduces suffering but also supports long-term stability and sustainable peace. Proactive funding of peacebuilding and conflict prevention can reduce future emergency humanitarian and recovery assistance. The cost effectiveness ratio of peacebuilding is 1:16— for every dollar invested now, the cost of a given conflict is reduced by 16 dollars.
The three aforementioned peacebuilding accounts are used to respond quickly to emergent dangers, reconcile diverse groups, and identify and mitigate brewing intergroup discord. As an example, money from the Complex Crises Fund successfully addressed growing instability and violence resulting from refugee and host community tensions in Bangladesh. There, the arrival of over 745,000 Rohingya fleeing atrocities in Myanmar sparked conflict between refugee and host communities, with escalating tit-for-tat violence and retributions. CCF funds were quickly mobilized to respond to the emergent violence and help stabilize the situation.
FCNL appreciates the Senate’s strong funding for these accounts and urges the House to match their generosity. As the Bible tells us, “By this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (NIV, Acts 20:35)
