Concept and dimensions of security:
Security means both the security of the state and the security of the citizens. Traditional notion of security focuses on the relationship between the structure of the state and the society and hence it is state-centric. Modern notion of security focuses on human security or the relation between the state and the citizen. The dimensions of modern security are economic, health, food, environmental, political, personal and community security. Therefore modern security not only demands the security through core security organizations, it also demands the protection of individual rights through different government bodies.
SSR is a format of Organization for Economic cooperation and development followed by the UN. It does not have specific definition but in general it focuses to reform not only the core security structures of the country but also focuses upon civilian oversight and professionalism ultimately focusing on the human security. In addition to hard core security organizations it also emphasizes the reform in other organizations like justice, private and non-statutory security organizations.
Security Sector Systems:
OECD has defined four security sectors which is adopted by United Nations.
Core Security actors: These are the organizations which have access to legitimate violence. For example: National army, paramilitary forces, police forces, presidential guards, intelligence and security services, coast guards, border guards, customs authorities.
Management and oversight bodies: Includes those bodies which are responsible to manage and maintain civilian oversight on the security organizations to maintain civil military relations and democratic control of the security sector. For example: parliament, executive, Security advisory bodies, Ministry of defense, Ministry of Finance, Civil society organizations, etc.
Justice and Rule of Law: Includes judiciary and Justice ministry, prisons, criminal investigation and prosecution bodies, human rights commissions, ombudsperson, customary and traditional justice system.
Non-Statutory Security Forces: Liberation army, guerrilla forces, political party militia and private security and military companies.
Objectives of SSR
To develop an effective, affordable and efficient security sector.
To ensure democratic and civilian control of the security sector.
Dimensions of SSR
Political: Civilian control
Economic: Affordability and controlling the misuse of resources (military expenditure)
Social: Physical security of individual citizen in society
Institutional: Professionalism of the security sectors
Principles of SSR
- Tries to create people centric security sector by adopting democratic values, human rights and local ownership.
- Should address diverse security challenges faced by the state and the population with a emphasis on human security. Internal and external security threats
- SSR activities should form part of multi-sectoral strategies i.e. security and justice. Therefore SSR is both about security and justice.
- Must be developed in adherence with good governance principles (Transparency, accountability and participation).
- Must be implemented through a clear process and it is not necessarily a post-war phenomena.
Challenges:
A) Procedural Challenges
a) Lack of common voice of international actors
b) Lack of support and cooperation of national actors
c) Unrealistic demand for holistic approach
B) Political, ideological and financial challenges
a) Diverging understanding of security
b) Poor long term financial planning
c) the fallacy of election
d) Unreasonable expectations and double standards
e) Engaging armed non-state actors
Differences between DDR and SSR
DDR focuses upon the core security actors only so falls under SSR.
SSR focuses on managing and restructuring overall security sectors to provide human security.
SSR is not necessarily a post-conflict phenomena.
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