Voices on Peacekeeping

SSR&G Makes Peacekeeping More Effective

SSR&G Is Central to Peacekeeping Mandates...

• A review of the United Nations' SSR support in Peace Operations found that "failure [of Peacekeeping Missions] to make progress on SSR undermines mission progress on every other indicator and damages the reputation and credibility of the United Nations itself" (Towards Better Security Governance: Learning from the Road Travelled)
• The review also found that "success or failure in advancing SSR has a deep impact on the overall success of a peace operation” (Towards Better Security Governance: Learning from the Road Travelled)
• The Security Council (S/RES/2553) and the General Assembly (A/77/19) have underlined the crucial importance of SSR in peacekeeping mission mandates. 
• The General Assembly (A/77/19) has encouraged Member States to strengthen SSR mandates in peacekeeping operations, and the Security Council (S/RES/2553) has resolved to do so. 

SSR&G Stabilizes, Delivers Security, and Brings Peace...

• H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, former President of the United Nations General Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia: “Security Sector Reform can be the difference between peace and conflict; life and death” (Security Sector Reform and Sustaining Peace: Proceedings of the High-Level Roundtable)
• The Security Council has recognized the importance of SSR “in the stabilization and reconstruction of States in the aftermath of conflict” and “in peacebuilding and sustaining peace” (S/RES/2553) 
• The General Assembly has stressed that the “establishment of an effective, professional and accountable security sector is a crucial element for laying the foundation for durable peace and development” ( A/74/19)
• Research in Sierra Leone found that the United Nations SSR support was “instrumental in establishing a stable and secure environment for the country” (Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone, Aiming for Resilience, But Stuck Between Structural And Local Needs.)

SSR&G Prevents Further Insecurity...

• The UN Deputy Secretary-General H.E. Ms. Amina Mohammed: “Security Sector Reform is a preventative measure. When citizens benefit from security...they are less likely to resort to violence to obtain redress for their grievances” (Security Sector Reform and Sustaining Peace: Proceedings of the High-Level Roundtable)
• World Bank: “An effective and robust SSR process is an important tool for preventing conflict” (Security Sector Reform and Conflict Prevention)
• UN Security Council: “A representative, responsive, efficient, effective, professional, and accountable security sector… is important for conflict prevention” (S/RES/2253)
• The Center of International Cooperation: “The neglect or failure of Security and Justice Sector Governance should be considered as a driving factor for civil unrest and coup d’état attempts” (United Nations and World Bank Collaboration in Security and Justice Sectors: Linkages to Development)

SSR&G Protects Civilians...

• Stimson Center: “Both the protection of civilians and security sector reform share the same goal: to make civilians safer” (Conflicting Means, Converging Goals: Civilian Protection and SSR)
• The Center of International Cooperation: “Security and justice services are not only essential for defense and people-centered protection and justice; they can be key to protecting people in natural disasters” (United Nations and World Bank Collaboration in Security and Justice Sectors: Linkages to Development)

SSR&G Helps Peacekeeping Missions to Exit – and not to return...

• The United States Institute of Peace: “A competent Indigenous security sector is essential for the exit strategy from costly peacekeeping missions” (United States Institute of Peace, Securing the Future Special Report)
• UN Security Council: "The establishment of representative, effective and accountable security sector governance ... and development of sustainable capacities of national security institutions ... is central to the ... gradual withdrawal and exit of peacekeeping operations"  (S/RES/2553)
• UN Security Council: "Failure to address [SSR] can … necessitate the return of peacekeeping missions"(S/RES/2553)
• "Providing security is important for avoiding relapse, in consideration of the high predisposition for recurrence in post-conflict societies. This support … often requires national reform of the security sector” (World Bank, Pathways for Peace)
• In Liberia, research has concluded that “Comprehensive security sector reform (SSR) was required so that Liberia could end its reliance on international peacekeepers” (United States Institute of Peace, “Security Sector Reform in Liberia: Domestic Considerations and the Way Forward.”)
• DCAF - The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance: "Security sector reform (SSR) is critical to peace operations because a mission’s exit strategy depends on the ability of a national security sector to perform its duties effectively, accountably, and inclusively" (DCAF, "Review of SSR language in the mandates of UN peace operations")

SSR&G Makes Peacekeeping Safer

SSR&G Helps to Remove Peacekeepers from The Front Line...

• “Only once a viable security sector has been established can a [peacekeeping] troop withdrawal be considered” (Developing a Security Sector Reform (SSR) Concept for the United Nations, Expert workshop organized by Slovakia)

SSR&G Helps PCCs and TCCs to Meet Their Targets for Peacekeeping...

• "[SSR] is an essential step in achieving the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping”  (Towards equal opportunity for women in the defence sector, UN report)
• “If [national defence] institutions are not inclusive and representative, gender parity efforts in peacekeeping will inevitably fall short” (Towards equal opportunity for women in the defence sector, UN report)