Mr President
Norway welcomes this opportunity to discuss Security Sector Reform in the Security Council. SSR deserves increased attention and it is important that SSR is placed on the agenda of the Security Council.
We welcome the Concept Paper prepared by the Slovak Presidency. The Concept Paper serves as an excellent basis for today’s debate, and as an impetus for an enhanced UN role as regards SSR. We fully concur with the Presidential Statement to be adopted today.
We support the formulation of a comprehensive, coherent and co-ordinated UN approach to SSR. Norway is ready to support UN efforts in this regard. We appreciate that the UN has already done a lot of work out in the field, albeit not always under the heading of SSR. The UN has important practical experiences to be drawn upon when formulating an overarching approach.
Mr President
Norway would like to underline the importance of co-ordination with on-going work in other international and regional organisations on the subject. For several years Norway has contributed to Security Sector reform in the Western Balkans, both bilaterally and in co-operation with various actors including NATO. I would also like to mention the work of the OECD, especially regarding efforts to define the concept.
Agreement on definition key to future co-operation and co-ordination of efforts in this vitally important field is vital. The OECD defines the security system as encompassing the armed forces, civil police, the judicial and prison system, as well as the civil authorities that are responsible for controlling these groups, including ministries and parliament. Reform of these sectors is vital to ensure sustainable peace in post-conflict societies, as well as in countries in transition from one-party rule to democracy.
The complex realities facing modern-day crisis management operations require multidimensional responses. Civilian aspects of international crisis management are increasingly regarded as integral parts of crisis management operations. SSR is an element of crucial importance if we are to achieve sustainable peace and viable democracies. If there is a fundamental lack of trust in the institutions which should upheld the principles of Rule of Law and respect for human rights, there will hardly be any progress in a post-conflict situation.
Mr President
Norway has responded to the increasing demand for civilian crisis response capabilities by systematically pooling experts within priority areas. We have pools of police -, legal – and defence experts, as well as advisers on democracy building and human rights. Our experts are deployed in international operations and to bilateral SSR projects.
Norway actively seeks to integrate gender awareness into SSR, as well as in all other activities of the UN. Mandates for peace operations should specify how the various measures affect both women and men. We have adopted a National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
SSR is also on the agenda of the Peace Building Commission. Development and security are strongly related, both in the short and the long term.
Without timely Security Sector Reform, extensive peace building and appropriate reintegration of fighters, countries may fall back into violent chaos. This would destroy any hope of development.
Thank you Mr President