[wanabidii] Public Oversight of the Security Sector: A Handbook for Civil Society Organizations

How can civil society organisations (CSOs) ensure accountability and transparency in the security sector? Whilst CSOs have facilitated security sector reform in transition and post-conflict states, much of their potential remains untapped. This UNDP handbook provides guidance on how CSOs can plan, structure and implement activities to support public oversight of the security sector. Areas of focus include monitoring, budget analysis, legal assistance, legal reform and work with the media and others to improve access to information on security issues.

The engagement of CSOs in overseeing security policy contributes to accountability and good practice. Yet civilian oversight is often met with political resistance in the security sector, especially where traditions of secrecy have been strengthened by threats of terrorism and conflict. This handbook seeks to promote security as a public good and render security policy and reform more accessible to CSOs.

To engage effectively in security sector oversight, CSOs require skills in a variety of roles:

• Research and information: CSOs need to carry out research professionally and communicate results comprehensibly to policy makers and the public.
• Advocacy and awareness-raising: CSOs can influence policy-making and implementation at local, national, regional and international levels. Awareness-raising can encourage public debate and add legitimacy to government policies. 
• Training: CSOs have a role in training their staff, peers, citizens, security sector personnel and others in the theory and practice of security sector oversight.  
• Monitoring: CSOs can contribute to accountability by monitoring the authorities responsible for providing security and holding them to account. This complements the role of the media in investigating and reporting security issues. 
• Budget analysis: CSOs need to analyse data on security budgets, as an auditor would analyse the effective and legitimate use of a budget. They can also lobby for effective use of state resources and guard against corruption. 
• Building organisational credibility and internal governance:CSOs must be able to monitor and evaluate their work to determine effectiveness and identify weaknesses.

Challenges and opportunities for CSOs have relevance for policymakers:

• Gender: Gender mainstreaming should not be seen as an extra but as a key part of comprehensive oversight of the security sector. 
• Human rights: Building trust between human rights groups and security sector institutions is a challenge. The rise of international human rights organisations has brought global attention to abuses committed by the security sector.  
• Legal assistance and legal reform: CSOs are well placed to assist those debating, amending and approving draft laws. Where courts have the power of constitutional review, public interest litigation can directly affect the policy process. 
• Alliances with the international community: Partnerships with other CSOs, the media, governments and international bodies are a key to success for CSOs looking to increase transparency and accountability in the security sector.
• States of emergency and restrictive environments: CSOs are crucial during these times, when the worst violations of human rights occur (often by security personnel). They are more likely to enhance accountability if they work in partnership to create international pressure on governments.
• Peacebuilding: CSOs have a vital role in mediation and confidence-building, ameliorating conflict and building new democratic institutions. Yet they do so at the risk of their own lives. Local networks, partnerships, NGOs and international governments can help enhance personal security.

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Author: Eden Cole (ed.) | Kerstin Eppert (ed.) | Katrin Kinzelbach (ed.)
Source: Cole E., Eppert K., Kinzelbach K. (eds.), 2008, 'Public Oversight of the Security Sector: A Handbook for Civil Society Organizations', UNDP, Bratislava
Size: 355 pages (3.5 MB)

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