What's New

UN trains Congolese ex-fighters in policing | 4th March

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is training hundreds of police officers, including former members of armed groups, in human rights and public security in the country’s volatile far east. During the training programme in Munigi, near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, 500 police personnel, with 50 women among them, will also undergo training in road traffic management and the maintenance and restoration of public order. The five-week scheme falls under the security component of the Government’s stabilization and recovery programme, known as STAREC, and seeks to restore State authority through police reform to consolidate peace and boost civilian protection... http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33943

Security sector reform vital to stability in Guinea-Bissau, says UN report | 4th March

Security sector reform remains the most crucial element to ensuring stability in Guinea-Bissau, according to a new United Nations report released today, which calls on the international community to support the country’s efforts towards this goal. In his latest report on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office there, known as UNIOGBIS, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls security sector reform the “centrepiece” of priority stabilization goals in the West African nation. “I urge national authorities and international partners not to lose sight of the holistic nature of security sector reform and to ensure that international assistance addresses not only defence sector needs but also the needs of the security and justice sectors,” he writes. He says he is encouraged that the national authorities are taking measures to pave the way for creating the legal framework for the reforms, while highlighting the need for sustained international support for the country’s efforts... http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33953

Higher education for young Afghans: An inexpensive way to rebuild the country | 3rd March

Over the past decade, the international community has invested billions of dollars and sacrificed hundreds of men and women in a fragmented effort to stem an increasingly downward tide that has been evident for years. To highlight that the current generation of young Afghans are the key to sustained progress and development would be a gross understatement. Born after the fall of the national government in 1978, they now represent the majority of the population, and have experienced instability and conflict all their lives. While many are uneducated and underemployed, there is a critical mass who have managed to secure a basic education and are currently at a crossroads... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/highe

UN - Security Council Extends Mission in Timor-Leste until 26 February 2011, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1912 (2010) | 2nd March

Recognizing the important role of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) in promoting peace, stability and development in the nascent South-East Asian nation, the Security Council today extended the Mission’s mandate until 26 February 2011 at current levels, while endorsing the Secretary-General’s intention to reconfigure its police component, including its drawdown, in line with the phased resumption process of policing responsibilities by the national police. Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1912 (2010), following extensive debate earlier this week on the situation in that country, including the future strength of the Mission (see Press Release SC/9866), the Council supported the ongoing work on the resumption of policing responsibilities by the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) through a phased approach, to ensure that the force met the criteria mutually agreed between the Timorese Government and UNMIT, as set out in the Secretary-General’s report of 4 February 2009 (document S/2009/72). In that connection, it requested the Government and UNMIT to continue to cooperate to expeditiously implement the resumption process, and requested the Mission to ensure, through its own police component and support to the Timorese force, the maintenance of public security in the country, and to intensify its efforts to assist with further training and strengthening of the police force, with a view to enhancing its effectiveness... http://www.isria.com/pages/1_March_2010_162.php

Ambassador John Herbst, Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization on S/CRS 2009 Year in Review | 2nd March

Good afternoon and welcome to the Department of State. Today, it’s my pleasure to introduce to you Ambassador John Herbst, who currently serves as Secretary Clinton’s Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. As coordinator, Ambassador Herbst is leading the development of the U.S. Government’s interagency civilian capacity to promote stabilization and reconstruction of societies in transition from conflict or civil strife. The ambassador is here today to present you with his 2009 year-end review marking the first anniversary of the Civilian Response Corps, a very special occasion for both his office and the State Department... http://www.state.gov/s/crs/rls/remarks/137532.htm

Guinea-Bissau approves plan of action for the implementation of Resolution 1325 | 1st March

Guinea-Bissau today adopted its national plan of action for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, following an inclusive consultation process involving the authorities and civil organizations supported by the UN. The Plan will be officially launched by the government during a special session of the Parliament, on International Women's Day, 8 March 2010. According to the document, Guinea-Bissau's Government commits to support increased participation of women, in decision-making, in national and regional peace consolidation mechanisms, in UN peace operations, in ongoing political processes and the peace consolidation agenda in the country, and in politics and political affairs. The national plan of action, through its 23 key objectives, details an effective portfolio of measures and actions that will guide the forthcoming Security Sector Reform (SSR) process, in a manner that will integrate women's and girl's specific needs for security and justice and ensures the full protection of their human rights... http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SMAR-

Stabilisation group delivers in challenging situations | 10th February

The Prime Minister has said civilians deployed to conflict and disaster zones carry out work that is “vital” to the ongoing success of military and stabilisation operations. Gordon Brown was speaking to members of the UK Civilian Stabilisation Group who assist with reconstruction in fragile, conflict-afflicted states. The group was set up in 2008 following the PM’s commitment to create a 1,000-strong civilian pool, reporting to the MOD, FCO and DFID. Members of the UKCSG have been deployed to a variety of countries since 2008, including Sudan, Kosovo, Georgia, the DRC and Haiti. The group’s first operation was in Musa Qala, Afghanistan. The PM said civilian experts deployed in close coordination with the military are able to show immediate progress. “This work in the field, which can so often go unnoticed, is absolutely vital to the enduring success of any military or stabilisation operation and building more secure communities where people feel they have a stake in the future through basic justice, schools, health centres and jobs.” The Stabilisation Unit is drawn from across the public, private, civil and military sectors and has the expertise to support countries affected by conflict and disaster. Recently the government announced that a small team of experts would be deployed to support the Haitian Ministry of Justice following January’s devastating earthquake. The Stabilisation Unit currently has two staff deployed in Port-au -Prince. http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page22421

Solomon Islands meeting to plan security sector governance | 10th February

Government officials, Members of Parliament, civil society and accountability institutions representatives and security personnel meet in Honiara today to determine priorities and support required to enhance security sector governance here. The Planning session will be held at Forum Fisheries Agency conference. Minister of Police and National Security, James Tora will open the session. Security institutions, such as the police, customs, corrections & military have a special responsibility in society to support human rights and to protect the population from harm. Security sector governance (SSG) is a means of providing effective and responsive security services to the people, and ensuring security institutions’ are accountable to the law. It seeks to make people, communities and countries more secure by emphasising that security institutions are accountable to citizens, chiefly through Parliament and regular elections but also through media scrutiny and public consultation and debate. The Solomon Islands Strategic Planning Session on Security Sector Governance is hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)... http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2730-