GFN-SSR

This is a multi-donor study conducted by the Conflict, Security and Development Group at Kings College London. It aims to identify lessons learned from peace operations, undertaken since the publication of the Brahimi Report in August 2000. Both the perspectives of local and international actors is taken into account.The central case studies cover the operations in East Timor, Kosovo and Sierra Leone...more..

Ann M Fitz-Gerald, the GFN-SSR’s director, has written an article entitled “Military and Postconflict Security: Implications for American, British and other Allied Force Planning and for Postconflict Iraq” This topical piece reviews SSR and Peace Support Operations theory and recent history, with particular focus on the Iraq crisis, 2003. It concludes that military intervention must anticipate the demands of the wider security agenda on their actions. All actors within the international development, conflict prevention and military communities, should see that the process of "joined up government" assists the establishment of stability... more..

Robin Luckham, the Chair of the GFN-SSR’s advisory group, and Gavin Cawthra have co-edited a book that addresses the issue of establishing democratic control of military and security institutions in transitional societies. This issue is very timely with the current crisis in Iraq.The authors of this volume explore the challenges of establishing democratic (and not just civilian) accountability and control of the military and other security establishments (including non-state armed formations) in countries, which have either been the victims of authoritarian military rule or wracked by violent internal conflict... more..

On March 19th the Clingendael Institute, based in The Hague, Netherlands, hosted a workshop comprised of academics and government officials from across Europe. The aim of the workshop was to provide commentary on a draft SSR assessment framework, titled “Enhancing Democratic Governance of the Security Sector: An Assessment Tool”... more..

The GFN-SSR Advisory Group met on Wednesday 26th April to review the first three months of the GFN’s activities and look ahead at the future requirements and strategy... more..

On March 24th and 25th, the GFN-SSR held an International Forum entitled “Security Sector Reform: Moving the Agenda Forward”. The meeting was held at Lancaster House in London, UK and had the following structure:

SSR in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies

Police and Judicial Reform

National Security in Democracies

Challenges in Military Reform

Geographical Fora

Many ideas were generated at the end of Day 2 in the regional fora. Some of the ideas were subsequently formalized in the GFN-SSR's Advisory Group meeting that was held immediately after the Forum on 26th March. A publication containing an executive summary of the Forum and its key outputs, background concept papers and a detailed set of proceedings is currently under completion. The publication will be available by 30 April 2003.

The GFN-SSR team is delighted to be launching the first phase of the GFN-SSR website. The website is a product of a dynamic process that will be continuously built upon and further developed. Within the first two months, we have succeeded in… more..