Security Sector Reform

In the aftermath of conflict, one of the key priorities of a new administration is to rebuild and reform the security sector, particularly in places where security services themselves present a threat to the restoration of order. Security sector reform (SSR) combines principles of development, rule of law, good governance and local ownership to restore effective domestic security.

Security sector reform typically involves defining a country’s long-term security needs and vision; conducting an audit of existing security sector institutions, laws, policies and capacities; identifying structural issues, discriminatory practices and other barriers to meeting state security requirements; and developing a plan to bridge the gap between what exists and what is needed to provide effective security.

In broad terms, SSR operations fall into four categories:

• Demilitarization and peacebuilding;
• Establishing civilian control and oversight of the security sector;
• Professionalizing the security forces; and
• Strengthening the rule of law.

SSR programmes can be a vital element towards strengthening local ownership of peacebuilding processes, by providing governing actors with an opportunity to engage local populations in identifying and shaping effective security services. This process can help to transform post-conflict institutions into credible forces, on which local populations rely for effective security.

Women & Security Sector Reform

Reform of the security sector can be crucial to building and restoring women’s trust in security actors during peacebuilding. One particular example of a security concern for women is the risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Addressing this issue involves a broad set of reforms, for example excluding ex-combatants who are known to have committed sexual violence from security sector positions; establishing specialized police units for investigating sexual and gender-based violence crimes; recruiting more women into the security sector; strengthening the capacity of health services to collect forensic evidence; and providing legal services to victims.

In addition to such specific measures, gender perspectives must also be integrated into broader policy-making processes, like the development of national security policies, peace agreements, codes of conduct, and the strategies of donors and international organizations.

UN Women’s Approach

UN Women participates in the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Security Sector Reform, which works to develop a coherent system-wide approach to SSR and provide guidance on good practices. Through the task force, UN Women has advocated for the inclusion of gender perspectives in all SSR processes, and supported research on women as participants and stakeholders in SSR.

Examples of UN Women’s work at the country level:

• In Rwanda, UN Women’s support includes work on strengthening female parliamentarians’ oversight role, improving women’s access to justice through the National Police Gender Desk, developing protocols and policies on sexual and gender-based violence, improving services for victims, and partnering on gender-sensitive reform with other security sector institutions.
• In Burundi, UNIFEM (now UN Women) has worked with the police, army and the Ministries of Justice and Defense, where gender focal points have been appointed, while at the local level, police and community leaders fighting violence against women have been brought together in dialogue to develop a common approach. An association of policewomen has also been established.
• In Liberia, UNIFEM (now UN Women) has supported gender-sensitive SSR training for the police and the Ministry of Justice, as well as the development of “Peace Huts,” which provide community-level dispute resolution and linkage between women, local authorities and the police.
• In Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244), work with the Kosovo Police Service and Kosovo Police has resulted in the appointment of a Gender Adviser, a Gender Equality Board and a Gender and Security Task Force.
• In Timor-Leste, work with the national police and civil society organizations has resulted in increased reporting of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as improved response.
• In Colombia, where UNIFEM (now UN Women) has worked with the justice sector, the Constitutional Court has ruled that government programmes on protection should incorporate gender perspectives.