Mel Duncan is the Co-founder and Director of Advocacy and Outreach for Nonviolent Peaceforce U.S. (NP), a world leader in unarmed civilian protection. NP’s nonviolent civilian protectors provide direct protection to civilians caught in violent conflict and work with local groups to prevent further violence in a variety of conflict areas including South Sudan, Iraq, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mel has represented NP at the United Nations where the group has been granted Consultative Status. Recent UN global reviews as well as Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions have cited and recommended unarmed civilian protection. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship honored Mel with their 2010 Peace Seeker award. The Fellowship of Reconciliation USA awarded him their 2007 Pfeffer International Peace Prize on behalf of Nonviolent Peaceforce’s “courageous efforts in conflict regions around the world.” The Utne Reader named him as one of “50 Visionaries Who are Changing Our World.” The American Friends Service Committee nominated Nonviolent Peaceforce for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2018 Nonviolent Peaceforce received the Luxembourg Peace Prize.Mel is a graduate of Macalester College, St. Paul Minnesota, USA. In 2006 he was honored with their Distinguished Citizen award. He and his wife, Georgia Heller Duncan, have eight children and twelve grandchildren.