As
the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ mantra continues to resonates across the
Nigerian federation, members of the civil society organizations in West
Africa have teamed up to brainstorm on how to respond to the rising
trend of violent conflicts and its attendant threats to regional
security.
The training was developed to provide tools for monitoring and advocacy on governance of security for civil society groups and NGOs in West Africa.
The event was tagged: ‘A 5 day regional training on tools for monitoring and advocacy on security sector governance in West Africa.’ The event, which kicked off on May, 26, ended on 30.
It was held at Ikeja, Lagos State. The training was intended to increase participants knowledge on concepts, issues, strategies and good practices in Human Rights monitoring of security institutions, advocacy and reporting. It was also expected to enhance the depth of their knowledge in governance, security sector reform, conflict prevention and management and demilitarisation in West Africa.
It was sponsored by Altus Global Alliance and the CLEEN Foundation. The five-day capacity building, according to Kemi Okenyodo, the Director of Altus/CLEEN Foundation, was designed for civil society activists to respond to the rising trend of violent conflicts.
Okenyodo said: “As part of efforts to increase civil society involvement, oversight and monitoring of security sector governance across the sub-region; this training is developed to provide tools for monitoring and advocacy on governance of security for civil society groups and NGOs in West Africa.” Dr. Abdul Hussaini, the Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria and a facilitator at the event, urged the government to take civil society organizations seriously.
His words: “Civil society organisations have a role to play in the insecurity we’re experiencing today. If the country hopes to overcome the present security situation, the government will have to reform the security sector and the agencies that are responsible for security in the country must become accountable and democratic as well as provide space for the civil society organizations to function.”
Hussaini continues: “It’s a big opportunity lost for government not to recognize the civil society organisations would have a way of accessing alternative intelligence and issues the government can use to address the insecurity in the country. The idea of clustering everybody as opposition is unhealthy and meanwhile, opposition is legitimate.
The civil society organizations cannot be ignored or clustered as opposition party and the government needs to listen to civil society organisation especially if they want to tackle the insecurity we have found ourselves.”
Speaking on CSO and Security Governance, Hussaini said: “Security Sector Governance (SSG) refers to the structures, processes, values and attitudes that shape decisions about security and their implementation.
“Security Sector Reform (SSR) on the other hand, aims to enhance SSG through the effective and efficient delivery of security under conditions of democratic oversight and control. SSR and SSG are important and critical steps towards a stable and secured environment necessary to promote human rights and security.
“A state may not be able to meets its security and human rights obligation to the citizenry unless its security forces can operate effectively and under democratic control. SSG ensures the development of democratic governance systems in, which people can influence, decisions that affect their lives.
It creates or strengthens an efficient judiciary and promotes Rule of Law.” Hussaini further argued that SSR and SSG bring about stability and integration, adding that if SSR was efficiently implemented, it would go a long way in rebuilding trust and improving relationships between the State and its citizens and also between countries.
According to the speaker, CSOs were a good independent source for research and hub for information. He said that through research, CSOs would be able to give reliable information and coherent analysis that would improve policy and practice in SSG.
He explained: “CSOs through recommendations from the research findings become involved in developing and conducting training on effective, transparent and democratic security sector governance. Provided that the design is such that can help bring about change, with clear goal, quantifiable and achievable at a speed with which the target groups, and society at large, can cope.” Hussaini said that monitoring was also one of the important active and visible efforts that CSOs could undertake to ensure the security sector was democratically overseen.
“Effective oversight of CSOs on SSG depends on its ability to monitor state policies and programming in the security field. Monitoring in this respect is a process of periodic data gathering relevant to security,” he said.
He continued: “The purpose of monitoring is to assess the conformity of state practice with a set of pre-established rules or guidelines in this case security and human rights.” Speaking on Security Sector Reform in West Africa, Francis Langumba Keili Director, Research and Planning Office of National Security and Head of the Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone, said that SSR was the transformation of the security system which includes all the actors, their roles, responsibilities and actions, so that it was managed and operated in a manner that was more consistent with democratic norms, and sound principles of good governance and thus contribute to a well-functioning security framework.
Keili said that responsible and accountable security forces reduce the risk of conflict, provide security for citizens and create the right environment for sustainable development. “The overall objective of SSR is to contribute to a secure environment that is conducive to development,” he said.
“Nigeria had been under military rule for most of its history. Nigeria faces a long list of security challenges, including; the proliferation of political, criminal, religious, communal and religious conflict.
There is also the problem of poor detection of early warning signals, poor conflict management, and lack of effective and accountable policing and limited parliamentary oversight of the security sector.
Gaps in the provision of public security have led to the formation and consolidation of nonstate actors.” Keili noted that SSR efforts require a sub-regional focus given the cross border nature of the security threats.
A clear security policy which is transparent and participatory. A clear policy framework within which the relationship between the security forces and the civil authorities can be both articulated and managed. Keili further said that engaging in SSR requires long term commitment from external actors. He broke the commitment into three parts. “Three are of particular concern. There is funding, sustainability of the reform, effective monitoring and local ownership of the reform and transformation process.
“The increasing application of the SSR concept by a range of international actors is evidence of growing awareness that SSR is an essential element in addressing a number of security and development goals. Experience in SSR as part of post-conflict peace building effort, have demonstrated the importance of the context in shaping external intervention and optimizing opportunities for capacity building among local actors.
“SSR is part of a wider reform effort and must be linked to other elements of peace building and development processes. It must be noted that the long term success of SSR in West Africa will depend on improvement in the overall governance environment within the sub region and improved coordination of all SSR activities, coupled with public confidence in the security sector.”
Keili also spoke on the State and Security Sector Governance in West Africa. He maintained that over the last decade, the place of the security sector had come under intense, but legitimate scrutiny in West Africa. According to him, during the period, national governments inter-governmental bodies and international actors had taken onboard, the view that addressing the conflict within the sub-region required a security sector that had a more nuance understanding of security issues.
He argued that the inability of security organizations within the sub-region to provide a safe and secure environment for economic and political development arises to a large degree out of poor governance – both of the state in general and the security sector in particular.
His words: “Since the end of the cold war, the desirability of shifting from a state and elite focused view of security to one that places individuals at the center of the security equation has gained acceptance in many parts of the world. The concept of human security which combines elements of national security, economic development and basic human rights with the objective of protecting people from the fear of violence and want is particularly relevant to West Africa.”
He opined that achieving security for West African states and their populations was not a task that the military alone can accomplish by themselves. Keili said: “Other state organizations that are mandated to ensure the safety of the state and the citizens, such as the Police, Gendamarie, civilian and military intelligence, border and coast guards, secret services, need to be part of the equation.
In many West African States, Police services are only beginning to develop a culture of service to the public and an understanding of the concept of policing by the consent of the people.
“Efforts to reform police services in West Africa have led to the realisation that public safety and security is dependent on the effective and efficient functioning of the entire criminal justice system. It is therefore important to compliment effort to strengthen the democratic governance of the police service with parallel effort to transform the Judiciary and the correction institutions.
“The Judiciary has a major role in ensuring that the principles and norms of democratic governance of the security sector, as reflected in international and national legislations are adhered to”.
The training was developed to provide tools for monitoring and advocacy on governance of security for civil society groups and NGOs in West Africa.
The event was tagged: ‘A 5 day regional training on tools for monitoring and advocacy on security sector governance in West Africa.’ The event, which kicked off on May, 26, ended on 30.
It was held at Ikeja, Lagos State. The training was intended to increase participants knowledge on concepts, issues, strategies and good practices in Human Rights monitoring of security institutions, advocacy and reporting. It was also expected to enhance the depth of their knowledge in governance, security sector reform, conflict prevention and management and demilitarisation in West Africa.
It was sponsored by Altus Global Alliance and the CLEEN Foundation. The five-day capacity building, according to Kemi Okenyodo, the Director of Altus/CLEEN Foundation, was designed for civil society activists to respond to the rising trend of violent conflicts.
Okenyodo said: “As part of efforts to increase civil society involvement, oversight and monitoring of security sector governance across the sub-region; this training is developed to provide tools for monitoring and advocacy on governance of security for civil society groups and NGOs in West Africa.” Dr. Abdul Hussaini, the Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria and a facilitator at the event, urged the government to take civil society organizations seriously.
His words: “Civil society organisations have a role to play in the insecurity we’re experiencing today. If the country hopes to overcome the present security situation, the government will have to reform the security sector and the agencies that are responsible for security in the country must become accountable and democratic as well as provide space for the civil society organizations to function.”
Hussaini continues: “It’s a big opportunity lost for government not to recognize the civil society organisations would have a way of accessing alternative intelligence and issues the government can use to address the insecurity in the country. The idea of clustering everybody as opposition is unhealthy and meanwhile, opposition is legitimate.
The civil society organizations cannot be ignored or clustered as opposition party and the government needs to listen to civil society organisation especially if they want to tackle the insecurity we have found ourselves.”
Speaking on CSO and Security Governance, Hussaini said: “Security Sector Governance (SSG) refers to the structures, processes, values and attitudes that shape decisions about security and their implementation.
“Security Sector Reform (SSR) on the other hand, aims to enhance SSG through the effective and efficient delivery of security under conditions of democratic oversight and control. SSR and SSG are important and critical steps towards a stable and secured environment necessary to promote human rights and security.
“A state may not be able to meets its security and human rights obligation to the citizenry unless its security forces can operate effectively and under democratic control. SSG ensures the development of democratic governance systems in, which people can influence, decisions that affect their lives.
It creates or strengthens an efficient judiciary and promotes Rule of Law.” Hussaini further argued that SSR and SSG bring about stability and integration, adding that if SSR was efficiently implemented, it would go a long way in rebuilding trust and improving relationships between the State and its citizens and also between countries.
According to the speaker, CSOs were a good independent source for research and hub for information. He said that through research, CSOs would be able to give reliable information and coherent analysis that would improve policy and practice in SSG.
He explained: “CSOs through recommendations from the research findings become involved in developing and conducting training on effective, transparent and democratic security sector governance. Provided that the design is such that can help bring about change, with clear goal, quantifiable and achievable at a speed with which the target groups, and society at large, can cope.” Hussaini said that monitoring was also one of the important active and visible efforts that CSOs could undertake to ensure the security sector was democratically overseen.
“Effective oversight of CSOs on SSG depends on its ability to monitor state policies and programming in the security field. Monitoring in this respect is a process of periodic data gathering relevant to security,” he said.
He continued: “The purpose of monitoring is to assess the conformity of state practice with a set of pre-established rules or guidelines in this case security and human rights.” Speaking on Security Sector Reform in West Africa, Francis Langumba Keili Director, Research and Planning Office of National Security and Head of the Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone, said that SSR was the transformation of the security system which includes all the actors, their roles, responsibilities and actions, so that it was managed and operated in a manner that was more consistent with democratic norms, and sound principles of good governance and thus contribute to a well-functioning security framework.
Keili said that responsible and accountable security forces reduce the risk of conflict, provide security for citizens and create the right environment for sustainable development. “The overall objective of SSR is to contribute to a secure environment that is conducive to development,” he said.
“Nigeria had been under military rule for most of its history. Nigeria faces a long list of security challenges, including; the proliferation of political, criminal, religious, communal and religious conflict.
There is also the problem of poor detection of early warning signals, poor conflict management, and lack of effective and accountable policing and limited parliamentary oversight of the security sector.
Gaps in the provision of public security have led to the formation and consolidation of nonstate actors.” Keili noted that SSR efforts require a sub-regional focus given the cross border nature of the security threats.
A clear security policy which is transparent and participatory. A clear policy framework within which the relationship between the security forces and the civil authorities can be both articulated and managed. Keili further said that engaging in SSR requires long term commitment from external actors. He broke the commitment into three parts. “Three are of particular concern. There is funding, sustainability of the reform, effective monitoring and local ownership of the reform and transformation process.
“The increasing application of the SSR concept by a range of international actors is evidence of growing awareness that SSR is an essential element in addressing a number of security and development goals. Experience in SSR as part of post-conflict peace building effort, have demonstrated the importance of the context in shaping external intervention and optimizing opportunities for capacity building among local actors.
“SSR is part of a wider reform effort and must be linked to other elements of peace building and development processes. It must be noted that the long term success of SSR in West Africa will depend on improvement in the overall governance environment within the sub region and improved coordination of all SSR activities, coupled with public confidence in the security sector.”
Keili also spoke on the State and Security Sector Governance in West Africa. He maintained that over the last decade, the place of the security sector had come under intense, but legitimate scrutiny in West Africa. According to him, during the period, national governments inter-governmental bodies and international actors had taken onboard, the view that addressing the conflict within the sub-region required a security sector that had a more nuance understanding of security issues.
He argued that the inability of security organizations within the sub-region to provide a safe and secure environment for economic and political development arises to a large degree out of poor governance – both of the state in general and the security sector in particular.
His words: “Since the end of the cold war, the desirability of shifting from a state and elite focused view of security to one that places individuals at the center of the security equation has gained acceptance in many parts of the world. The concept of human security which combines elements of national security, economic development and basic human rights with the objective of protecting people from the fear of violence and want is particularly relevant to West Africa.”
He opined that achieving security for West African states and their populations was not a task that the military alone can accomplish by themselves. Keili said: “Other state organizations that are mandated to ensure the safety of the state and the citizens, such as the Police, Gendamarie, civilian and military intelligence, border and coast guards, secret services, need to be part of the equation.
In many West African States, Police services are only beginning to develop a culture of service to the public and an understanding of the concept of policing by the consent of the people.
“Efforts to reform police services in West Africa have led to the realisation that public safety and security is dependent on the effective and efficient functioning of the entire criminal justice system. It is therefore important to compliment effort to strengthen the democratic governance of the police service with parallel effort to transform the Judiciary and the correction institutions.
“The Judiciary has a major role in ensuring that the principles and norms of democratic governance of the security sector, as reflected in international and national legislations are adhered to”.
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