Approach
SSR is essentially aimed at the efficient, effective and non-discriminatory provision of state and human security within a framework of democratic governance. However, the goals of providing state and human security can be conflictual in the context of conflict-torn societies which lack the framework of democratic governance. The experiences of SSR in Afghanistan triggered a debate on the advantages of providing human rather than state security in the process of state-building.
The concept of SSR as an ideal is holistic in its approach to the security sector: all relevant actors and instruments should be included in the process from a dysfunctional security sector to a reformed one.
The SSR concept links measures aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness of security forces to overriding concerns of democratic governance. Efforts to modernize security forces, e.g. by buying new weapons or reorganizing hierarchical structures, would not be considered SSR without ensuring the sector's democratic accountability. SSR-related activities must always be aimed at improving the governance of the security sector; an approach which is advocated by the right-financing framework.
Read more about this topic: Security Sector Reform
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