"Organized violence is the purposeful and systematic use of terror and brutality to control individuals, groups and communities. Through the use of overwhelming force, it causes fear and helplessness among its victims. Its methods include causing severe pain and suffering, killing, intimidating, threatening and in some cases destroying a community, ethnic group or political opposition. Governments usually direct military, police and political organizations to perform organized violence, or those groups may act independently in the persecution of specific individuals, groups and communities. Opposition groups may also terrorize and brutalize civilian populations in order to gain power by creating fear and social disorder."
Krane S. Working with victims of organized violence from different cultures. A Red Cross and Red Crescent Guide. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Geneva, Switzerland 1995. p.5
We use this definition as a broad guide to help us set the limits to our mandate. Organised violence, then, includes state-sanctioned torture or violence, but also other forms of deliberate violence aimed at controlling population groups. It does not, generally speaking, refer to random 'criminal' acts of violence, except where these acts are part of a larger political, social or religious context that tolerates such acts as useful elements to be exploited for other ends.
