Cristal Downing is Project Director, Gender & Conflict at International Crisis Group. Ms Downing’s experience bridges research, policy, and practice, with a focus on conflict and violence in Latin America.
Before joining ICG, she was Colombia Case Study Manager at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research on the Managing Exits from Armed Conflict project, where she focused on understanding the trajectories of individuals leaving armed groups in Colombia. Prior to joining UNU-CPR, Ms Downing was Senior Policy Adviser at the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.
She held a Security Council portfolio that included Colombia, Venezuela, and Women, Peace and Security. Prior experience includes a role as Analyst in the DDR programme of the International Organisation for Migration in Colombia.
Ms Downing is a Doctoral Candidate in the War Studies programme at King’s College London where her research focuses on the reintegration of former child soldiers in Colombia.
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Geographic focus:
Subject expertise:
- Armed conflict (causes, dynamics, prevention)
- Armed groups
- Children and DDR
- Climate security, natural resources and DDR
- Community violence reduction
- DDR planning
- International intervention
- Legal and normative frameworks for DDR
- Organized crime and DDR
- Political context of DDR
- Prevention of (re-)recruitment/recidivism
- Reintegration
- Rule of law, transitional justice and DDR
- The United Nations and DDR
- Women, gender and DDR
- Youth and DDR
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