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Blog | 10 tips for Increasing Political Engagement in SSR

SSR is a highly political endeavour, and 'progress' in SSR is all too often criticised for a 'lack of political will'. In this latest edition to our series on tips for SSR practitioners, Thammy Evans provides 10 pointers to help improve political engagement. Acknowledging the difficulties of a completely holistic approach, these tips together argue for a more balanced approach, which is conflict sensitive and tries to better de-risk the SSR process.

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Resource Library

Policy and Research Papers

Understanding the Informal Security Sector in Nigeria

This report from the United States Institute of Peace provides an analysis of the informal security actors in Nigeria. The key issues considered are the types of informal security actors, the organisational structures of these actors, their recruitment and training mechanisms, their accountability issues, their relationships with formal security actors as well as their perception. The report contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the informal security environment in Nigeria.

EU and Security Sector Reform: Tilting at Windmills?

This study was produced as part of the project “Whole of Society Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding”. The main objective of this study is to provide an initial orientation to the EU's Security Sector Reform by focusing on related policy developments and scholarly knowledge production on SSR. This paper highlights a few key challenges and gaps the EU faces in realizing its SSR goals and, more generally, its civilian peacebuilding and crisis management goals.

Assessing the Impact of Orthodox Security Sector Reform in El Salvador

This paper by the Centre for Security Governance (CSG) is part of a multi-year CSG research project  Exploring the transition from first to second generation SSR in conflict-affected societies. More than 20 years after the Chapultepec peace accords, the Salvadoran peace has been maintained, but the country remains unable to address epidemic levels of crime and violence. This report assesses the impact of orthodox SSR on peace and security in El Salvador and evaluates the extent to which the reform process respected the core principles of SSR as conceived by key stakeholders, such as the OECD-DAC.

Other Documents

Refugees, IDPs and Peacebuilding in the Contemporary Middle East - eSeminar Summary n°6

The Centre for Security Governance (CSG) recently hosted the third in its series of eight online seminars focusing on the theme of “Contemporary Debates on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding.” The panellists discussed how the refugee and IDP crisis should factor into peacebuilding approaches throughout the Middle East. Key topics and questions that arose as part of the discussion included the ability of refugees to play a constructive role in peacebuilding and the economic conditions facing refugees.

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Events

UN 2030: Rebuilding Order in a Fragmenting World | Wednesday 28 September | 12:30 - 14:00 | Geneva

Through extensive consultations and travels as Chair of the ICM, Mr Rudd has gained valuable insights into the world situation that build on his vast international and domestic political experience. The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is organising the launch of the Chair’s Report. The Honorable Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Australia and current President of the Asia Society Policy Institute will provide his personal views on the world situation and suggest how the UN can be adapted to cope with the rapid pace of change.

Ban Ki-moon Lecture | Monday 03 October | 17:30 - 18:30 | Geneva

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies together with the Club Diplomatique de Genève is organising this event to mark the conclusion of the Secretary-General’s term of office on 31 December 2016. Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. He will discuss his time in office and the global challenges facing the world in the years ahead.

Translating IHL into military operations | Tuesday 04 October | 18:00 - 19:30 | Geneva

The ICRC has invited four renowned experts to offer their insights at a panel discussion on asymetric warfare and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). When faced with opponents who significantly differ in terms of military capacity and resources, how can  commanders ensure their military operations remain within the confines of IHL? What does asymmetric warfare mean today and what are the legal challenges – real or perceived?

Jobs

Rule of Law Officer | OSCE | Warsaw | Deadline: 3 October 2016

Police Component Research Development Unit Lead | Creative Associates International | Gaziantep | Deadline: 13 October 2016

Tip of the Week

Want to learn about good practice in security and justice programming? Explore ISSAT's SSR in Practice page. It contains explanations of key concepts, recommended activities, and a growing collection of case studies, tools, examples, lessons, and other resources drawn from the collective experience of the community.