Security Sector Reform

Nepal is under going a grave crisis because of nine year-long Maoist insurgency and the deterioration in the practice of democratic governance. One of the worst effected areas of governance is security sector which needs an urgent reform if Nepal is to be stopped from sliding towards the destination of becoming a failed state. Security sector encompasses a broad spectrum of institutions responsible for the protection and defense of a state and its citizens. It has been defined as encompassing state institutions which have a formal mandate to ensure the safety of the state and its citizens against acts of violence and coercion, the elected or duly appointed civil authorities responsible for control and oversight of these institutions.

Security Sector Reform is emerging as a central issue of good governance in Nepal. The creation of a professional security sector, properly mandated, adequately resourced and subject to democratic control can contribute to the reconstruction of societies affected by violent conflict. In contrast, peace is unlikely to be sustainable in societies where these reforms are not undertaken.

It represents a new domain of policy and activity that cuts across sectors, government departments, state and civil society. It includes the military, civil police, government and non-government agencies dealing with human rights and humanitarian assistance, diplomats and organizations sponsoring development and democratization programmes. The security sector should also be subject to the same principles of public sector management as other government sectors, with small adjustments for appropriate national security-related confidentiality.

An unreformed security sector working as a repressive tool of the ruling elite which resists democratic mandate has remained the greatest challenge for developing countries including Nepal. The FFP has proposed the following areas to be brought under focus of reform in order to make the security sector more responsible, responsive to public aspiration and subject to democratic control and oversight.

Areas of reform

• Ideological and structural reform
• Democratic control and oversight
• Security budgeting process
• Strengthening civil society
• Capacity building
• Improving security sector and community relation
• Transparency and accountability
• Judicial-penal reform and strengthening of rule of law
• Regulation of small arms and mine
• Adopting regional security measures
• Demilitarization and demobilizations
• Linking security with sustainable development

It is strongly believed that the research and study in the above mentioned areas will positively contribute in widening the resource base for further research in the field of conflict resolution and democratic peace process in the future.