SSR Issue Papers
Towards a Non-State Security Sector Reform Strategy
This paper outlines a comprehensive strategy for engaging non-state actors in security sector reform (SSR) by synthesizing the emerging literature on this approach and developing new conceptual tools to advance policy and practice.
Policing in Palestine: Analyzing the EU Police Reform Mission in the West Bank
Police reform in the Palestinian Territories has faced many challenges. Rebuilding the police force in a post-conflict environment is not an easy task, and must take into account the community’s needs in order to build legitimacy.
Strategic Support to Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan, 2001-2010
A lack of strategic direction and political agreement in security sector reform (SSR) in Afghanistan is an ongoing struggle. This issue paper focuses on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, in addition to police and army reform.
Security Sector Governance in Pakistan: Progress, But Many Challenges Persist
The US Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound on May 2, 2011 brought into question the Pakistani army’s domination over nearly all aspects of the state. Pakistanis wondered how these events could have occurred right under the nose of the military. This issue paper examines the prospects for security sector governance in Pakistan and identifies the reforms necessary for the government to make meaningful strides in this area. The paper examines persistent shortcomings in security governance; however, it also highlights key areas where there have been recent improvements, including disaster management and control of nuclear arms.
Financing Security Sector Reform: A Review of Official Development Assistance Data
International organizations and major aid donors have increasingly become more involved in the efforts to reform the security and justice institutions in developing countries over the past 20 years. This SSR Issue Paper focuses on the size of external support for SSR activities, showing that agencies often discuss the effectiveness of SSR programming without the benefit of a comprehensive system for tracking SSR assistance. It examines the information that is often used to demonstrate how international support for SSR has increased — and discusses why such data is both incomplete and faulty given the context of how it is collected.
Military Justice and Impunity in Mexico's Drug War
Over 5,000 human rights complaints have been filed against the military during President Felipe Calderón’s administration, but only one soldier has been punished by the military justice system. Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled on July 12, 2011 that the military should not have jurisdiction over cases of human rights abuse by soldiers. The third in a series of issue papers on current security sector reform issues, this paper discusses proposed reform to the Code of Military Justice necessary to ensure that all human rights violations are tried in civilian courts.
Sudan's Aspirational Army: A History of the Joint Integrated Units
The second in a series of issue papers on current security sector reform (SSR) issues, this paper examines the troubled history of the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) in Sudan and makes recommendations for those involved in the redeployment of the units following the outcome of the January 2011 referendum.
Security Sector Reform in Haiti One Year After the Earthquake
The first in a series of issue papers on current security sector reform (SSR) issues, this paper examines how the January 2010 earthquake affected the security and justice reforms underway in Haiti and considers future objectives for the international community.