MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
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THEME 7<br />
THEME 7 JUSTICE AND SECURITY SECTOR<br />
GOVERNANCE<br />
In the ideal society functioning under the rule of law, the armed<br />
forces and police carry guns so that the rest of the population doesn’t<br />
have to. The opposite case is one in which no enforcement of the rule<br />
of law leads to vigilantism and high levels of firearm violence and<br />
death. 1<br />
The relationship between dysfunctional justice and security<br />
sectors and the demand for guns in the population is not yet<br />
clearly understood. Intuitively, corrupt police—whether themselves<br />
misusing their small arms or failing to prevent misuse<br />
by civilians—will leave people with a sense of injustice and insecurity<br />
that will in turn drive them to take the law (and the gun) into their own<br />
hands. While more research is needed to better understand this relationship,<br />
in recent years it has been acknowledged that justice and security<br />
sector reform (JSSR) is closely linked to violence prevention and peace<br />
building. 2 The international community has recognised that bringing the<br />
security sector under civilian control and establishing equitable justice<br />
are essential to rebuilding societies recovering from war. 3 Conversely, a<br />
failure to engage in reform of the justice and security sector can aggravate<br />
social and political tensions and lead to increased risk of armed violence<br />
and the demand for guns.<br />
WHAT ARE THE JUSTICE AND SECURITY SECTORS?<br />
The institutions of the justice and security sector are principally composed<br />
of the judiciary/courts, corrections, police, military, ancillary security services,<br />
and the civilian authorities and organisations—elected, appointed,<br />
and civil society—that are responsible for the management and oversight<br />
of the sector’s institutions. Taken together, these bodies are responsible<br />
for the overall provision of an accountable, equitable, effective, and rights-<br />
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