Security System Reform and Governance
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DAC Guidelines and Reference Series Series DAC Guidelines and Reference « Security System Reform and Governance A democratically run, accountable and efficient security system helps to reduce the risk DAC Guidelines of violent conflict and build peace. It plays a critical role in upholding human rights and and Reference Series creating an enabling environment for poverty reduction and sustainable development. This publication continues efforts by the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) to develop tools and instruments for conflict prevention and for improving security Security System Reform and stability in the long term. The guidance underlines the positive role that the integrated and Governance reform of a country’s security system can play in stabilising fragile, conflict-prone or conflict affected states. This includes not only the armed forces, police and gendarmerie, intelligence services, and justice and penal systems, but also the civil authorities responsible for oversight and democratic control. Part I contains a policy statement and paper endorsed in 2004 by development ministers and agency heads of the DAC and by the OECD council. It sets out the key concepts of security system reform (SSR) and suggests ways to support it in developing countries, taking into account regional dynamics. It emphasises that SSR, and the context in which it takes place, must be understood throughout the foreign affairs, development and the defence establishments to ensure a “whole of government” approach to development assistance. Comprehensive, co-ordinated and integrated reform programmes must be promoted by officials at all levels. Partner country ownership and buy-in is essential for effective implementation on the ground. In Part II, a consultant examines the origins of the SSR agenda and the challenges that Security System Reform and Governance donors face in promoting it in partner countries. The Annexes contain work by SSR practitioners from each of the four regions surveyed: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and southeast Europe, the Baltics and the CIS. It sets out their assessment of the changes that are taking place in the way that developing countries in these regions think about security and provides an account and analysis of individual reform activities currently being undertaken. It looks at how the SSR concept and policy agenda might need to be adapted and improved to fit the context in which it is being promoted. OECD’s books, periodicals and statistical databases are now available via www.SourceOECD.org, our online library. This book is available to subscribers to the following SourceOECD themes: Governance Development Ask your librarian for more details on how to access OECD books on line, or write to us at: [email protected] www.oecd.org ISBN 92-64-00786-5 43 2005 13 1 P -:HSTCQE=UU\][Y: DAC Guidelines and Reference Series Security System Reform and Governance A DAC Reference Document ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT The OECD is a unique forum where the governments of 30 democracies work together to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalisation. The OECD is also at the forefront of efforts to understand and to help governments respond to new developments and concerns, such as corporate governance, the information economy and the challenges of an ageing population. The Organisation provides a setting where governments can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and work to co-ordinate domestic and international policies. The OECD member countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Commission of the European Communities takes part in the work of the OECD. OECD Publishing disseminates widely the results of the Organisation’s statistics gathering and research on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as the conventions, guidelines and standards agreed by its members. This work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Organisation or of the governments of its member countries. Also available in French under the title: Réforme des systèmes de sécurité et gouvernance Photo Credit: Kerstin Lundgren, Division for Humanitarian Assistance and Conflict Management, Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida). © OECD 2005 No reproduction, copy, transmission or translation of this publication may be made without written permission. Applications should be sent to OECD Publishing: [email protected] or by fax (33 1) 45 24 13 91. Permission to photocopy a portion of this work should be addressed to the Centre français d'exploitation du droit de copie, 20, rue des Grands-Augustins, 75006 Paris, France ([email protected]). FOREWORD Foreword Security from violence is fundamental to people's livelihoods and to sustainable economic, social and political development. Where violence breaks out, within or between countries, development is arrested. Security matters to the poor and other vulnerable groups, especially women and children, and has emerged as a vital concern for development, reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Faced with widespread violent conflict, threats to human security and the acute reconstruction needs of many countries, OECD governments now realise that “the cost of neglect” – letting countries drift into deep difficulties or become failed states – is far too high for people, nations and international security. Ministers and Agency Heads at the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) High Level Meeting on 15-16 April 2004 endorsed the policy statement and paper on Security System Reform (SSR), as a DAC Reference Document, and as part of their efforts to continue to improve policies and practices to prevent violent conflict and build peace. This work is a key component of the “human security” agenda, developed by the United Nations, which focuses on building open and responsive states that ensure the livelihoods and safety of their people. It complements the DAC Guidelines Helping Prevent Violent Conflict, a reference point for development co-operation in this field. The DAC Reference Document – policy statement and paper – makes up Part I of this publication. It provides fundamental principles for SSR and recommends approaches and good practice examples in key aspects of this emerging policy area. SSR seeks to increase partner countries’ ability to meet the range of security needs within their societies in a manner consistent with democratic norms and sound governance principles, including transparency and the rule of law. Democratically run, accountable and efficient security systems can help reduce the risk of violent conflict. The security system is broad, going well beyond armed forces and the police. It includes the civil authorities responsible for oversight and control (e.g. parliament, the executive, and the defense ministry), the police and gendarmerie, customs officials, judicial and penal institutions, the armed forces, intelligence services. It also encompasses civil society, including human rights organisations and the press. To work effectively on SSR, whole-of-government frameworks and mechanisms are needed – both in donor and developing countries – in order to harness the range of policy and funding instruments available into a common effort. This range includes development co-operation, diplomacy, trade, finance and investment, and defence. Donors also need to develop comprehensive development programming strategies to help with coherence and avoid piecemeal efforts, where possible. And partner country ownership and buy-in is critical. Donors must align work in these contexts behind the developing country's approaches. All external actors need to have a keen understanding of the context and history of partner countries and carefully consider regional dynamics. This requires long-term analysis and engagement. Part II and the Annexes to this document were contributed by external consultants and are based on regional surveys commissioned to assess SSR-related activities in 110 partner countries across four regions: Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Baltics, southeast SECURITY SYSTEM REFORM AND GOVERNANCE – ISBN 92-64-00786-5– © OECD 2005 3 FOREWORD Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Part II examines the origins of the SSR agenda and the DAC’s role in supporting the development of donor policy in this field. The Annexes contain reports on each of the four regions surveyed, analysing the activities and the changes that are currently taking place in the way that developing countries think about security. Together, Part II and the Annexes show that the concept of “security” is being revised in developing and transition countries. They also show, however, that significant challenges still remain. Through such analysis this work seeks to improve donor understanding of how non-OECD countries view the SSR policy agenda. By suggesting ways to engage with partner countries, it aims to strengthen the impact and