the process of security sector reform - ISAC Fund

Robert S. Tomasovic PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS
Robert S. Tomasovic PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS
etc. These are civilians who make decisions about what is to be done and by
whom − civilian and military − such as UNSCR 1244 in Kosovo or how many
Nigerian troops are going to Monrovia and with what ROE, and authorizing
military actions in other countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. However part
of the authorization for interventions should include plans for the aftermath of
war − security and stability, disarming combatants, humanitarian assistance to
civilian victims, repair of infrastructure, transition of civilian rule, rule of law,
etc. These are areas in which civilians must be assisted to assume major roles and
military a supportive role - especially in security until civilian security forces can
take over or, if that is delayed, until peacekeeping forces can be introduced.
Host nationals must, at the end of the day, become the government of the country
and of its civil institutions. However these host nationals evolve into their
leadership roles; it is their country and they need to be supported, pushed, exhorted,
or whatever it takes to motivate and assist them to assume their responsibilities.
The role of the international humanitarian civilian community - IGOs and NGOs
is to offer assistance, often first in the form of relief to help meet initial basic
humanitarian needs: water, food, shelter, medical care, etc. These relief agencies
cannot function effectively as we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan without basic
security, which at the beginning only military peacekeeping forces can provide,
until civilian security services are able to address security issues. IGO civilian
organizations may be called upon to administer the country at least initially
such as in Kosovo and East Timor. When the acute humanitarian effects of the
conflict have been mitigated, IGO and NGO civilian organizations transition to
development assistance to help host national civilians to establish sustainable
institutions: education, rule of law, civil administration, etc. – for sustainable
nation building.
especially child soldiers, have no experience as civilians and have no skills that
are needed in civilian society. Civilian authorities in neighboring countries may
see opportunities to enhance their own individual or national economic and
strategic positions as a result of the compromised status of the neighbor who has
just come through a conflict situation. International organizations such as the
UN, AU, etc., must address this neighborly opportunism, through political and if
necessary military intervention to maintain international borders.
This paper was originally published in the Compendium of lectures from
The Third School of Security Sector Reform, in 2004.
International and national civilian agencies help host national military personnel
transition to civilian status. The literature talks about this process as disarmament,
demobilization, reintegration, and reconciliation (DDRR). Real challenges lie in
reintegration especially in light of the usually decimated economic situation with
resultant high unemployment of civilian victims even before military personnel
are demobilized and swell the number of unemployed. Retraining programs
for demobilized combatants are essential for their integration into civilian
society. Reconciliation between personnel who formerly fought each other and
victimized non-combatants is also extremely difficult. Many military personnel,
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