Bonn International Center for Conversion
(http://www.bicc.de/)

BICC is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace and development through the efficient and effective transformation of military-related structures, assets, functions and processes.
BICC organizes its work around three main topics: arms, peacebuilding and conflict. BICC recognizes that the narrow concept of national security, embodied above all in the armed forces, has been surpassed by that of global security and, that global security cannot be achieved without seriously reducing poverty, improving health care and extending good governance throughout the world, in short: without human security in the broader sense.
Arms: BICC is intensifying its previous efforts in the fields of weaponry and disarmament, not only through its very special work on small arms but also by increasing its expertise in further topics of current concern such as the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms embargoes and new military technologies.
Peacebuilding: BICC is extending its work in the area of peacebuilding. In addition to examining post-conflict demobilization and reintegration of combatants and weapon-collection programs, the Center aims to contribute to the development of concepts of security sector reform with an emphasis on civil-military cooperation, increased civilian control of the military, and the analysis of failed states.
Conflict: BICC is broadening its scope in the field of conflict management and conflict prevention, including tensions caused by disputes over marketable resources and transboundary issues such as water.
These three main areas of analysis are complemented by additional crosscutting aspects, for example, gender, pandemics, or environmental protection.
Along with conducting research, running conferences and publishing their findings, BICC’s international staff are also involved in consultancy, providing policy recommendations, training, and practical project work. By making information and advice available to governments, NGOs, and other public or private sector organizations, and especially through exhibitions aimed at the general public, they are working towards raising awareness for BICC’s key issues.
While disarmament frees up resources that can be employed in the fight against poverty, conversion maximizes outcomes through the careful management of such transformation of resources. It is in this sense that they together contribute to increasing human security.
The Bonn International Center for Conversion was established in 1994 with support from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The Center's Trustees include the two German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg as well as the NRW.BANK, and the Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft NRW (LEG).

Contact:
An der Elisabethkirche 25
53113 Bonn, GERMANY
Phone: +49-228-911 96-0, Fax: +49-228-24 12 15
E-Mail: bicc@bicc.de