Statement by Ms Susan van der Merwe Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: The Role of the Security Council in Supporting Security Sector Reform Security Council, United Nations, New York, 12 May 2008

Mr. President,

We thank the United Kingdom for organizing this open briefing on Security Sector Reform and welcome the report of the Secretary-General entitled: Securing peace and development: the role of the United Nations in supporting security sector reform.  My delegation wishes to welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General in promoting security sector reform and expresses appreciation for his recommendations on the way forward.

Mr. President,
 
As this Council is aware, Africa has been involved in undertaking security sector reform in a number of countries. Our experiences point to the fact that this is not an event but a process that requires continuous attention and political will.  It is a process that is politically sensitive and must be nationally owned.  Thus, security sector reform cannot be imposed on any country or any institution. National ownership ensures that the process is rooted in the needs and conditions of the country, because each country faces its own unique challenges. Yet, national ownership as one of the non-negotiable principles of SSR is definitely not antithetical to external support.

So, whatever approach is adopted has to be in context and be country specific.  This is important because for a long time our continent has suffered from many attempts to impose one-size-fits all solutions to security sector reform that have produced more problems than solutions. Until now, there has been a limited understanding of security sector reform that goes beyond traditional military elements and is not state-centric but involves a much wider range of national actors and institutions. This, however, does not negate the fact that Member States are the primary providers of security as both a sovereign right and a responsibility.

Last year, we were pleased and honored to join with the Slovak delegation in hosting a seminar in Cape Town attended by many countries. At this seminar, it was made quite clear that security sector reform must, of necessity, meet the new concept of security that transcends the reductionist perspective that has historically and one-dimensionally equated security with the military aspect and excluded the political, cultural and socio-economic dimensions. In other words, security sector reform is an important pillar for both security and sustainable development.

The new concept of security sector reform implies an all-inclusive process that must address the needs of the people, including the needs of marginalized groups in society, in particular women. The inclusion of their perspectives and concerns in the design and delivery of security sector reform is critical.  In this way the people are responsible for making sure that the security sector is a guarantor of security and freedom rather than a threat to it.

However, these experiences from Africa should not be construed to imply that the need for SSR is specific to Africa.  Other countries outside the continent have also embarked on the reform of their respective security sectors. However Africa has some unique challenges that include the general low level of economic development, the fragility and weakness of several African states and the complexities arising from simultaneous interventions of external actors.

Mr. President,

South Africa recognizes the importance of close partnerships with the UN and non-United Nations actors, in particular regional, sub-regional and other intergovernmental organizations, including international financial institutions and non-governmental organizations. Security Sector Reform is a long-term process that requires resources, energies and political will. 

The case of Sierra Leone highlights the importance of clear political commitment and leadership to SSR from within the country and the crucial long-term support and the benefits of a wide-consultative process; while the case of Guinea Bissau highlights the challenges associated with implementing SSR with severe resource constraints. Therefore, effective support that will lead to successful reform of the sector requires capacity, knowledge and sensitivity and no tension between external support and national ownership in the security sector reform process.

In fact, there is political will on the part of the partners, but the lack of coordination has undermined the effects of this political will on the ground.  In the current atmosphere of a lack of coherent and coordinated approach, international partners are virtually free to determine the elements and directions of their individualized interventions and support to the security sector reform. The experience of the DRC highlights the complexities of the problems that flow from uncoordinated external support to SSR.

This is precisely because there is no code of ethics/conduct and policy guidelines that are universally accepted to international partners and agreeable to States undertaking the security sector reform. 

It was this observation of the negative consequences of uncoordinated approach and lack of guiding principles that informed our partnership with Slovakia, to advocate for an enhanced UN role in the security sector reform.

Mr. President,

The legitimacy and global character of the UN gives it particular responsibility to facilitate a coordinated approach.   We appreciate that the UN has been doing some work on SSR but most of its activities in this regard have been ad hoc without a framework to provide guidance.  Fundamental in the assistance and expertise that the UN provides is cooperation and consent of the States involved. We hope that the discussion here today will move us a step closer to coordinating our approach to SSR.

Thank you.