Celebrations during the technical committee for regional peace and security in the DRC. Photo – Sylvain Leichti/MONUSCO\
©️UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti
Security Sector Reform (SSR) at the United Nations
What is SSR
Armed forces, police, border guards: elemental for sustaining peace. They stabilize, protect, and provide relief. But when poorly regulated, unaccountable, or sourced for political gain, the security sector becomes a liability instead of a force for good.
Security sector reform is the work undertaken by a government and its people to make the country's security institutions serve its citizens. Provide people-centered security. Accountable institutions that contribute to the rule of law, improve lives and livelihoods for all.
What We Do
Providing genuine security to any population is a meaningful assignment, central to the United Nations Charter. The United Nations supports nationally-led security sector reform. Our goal is to help states and societies develop effective, inclusive, and accountable security institutions that contribute to national and international security and sustainable development.
What's Happening
New CROSSROADS guidance module: Series 3 –Legislative and regulatory
Module 3.4 National Security Planning
New CROSSROADS guidance module: Series 12 –SSR assistance programmes
Module 12.1 How UN Senior Leaders Engage on Security Sector Reform & Governance
Security Sector Reform and Women, Peace and Security
Check out some powerful stories on strengthening equal opportunities for women in the security sector.
SSR Week 2024
In an often volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, security sector reform and governance (SSR&G) must keep up with new challenges. From 3-7 June, SSR Week 2024 reflected on five topics at the cutting edge of SSR&G: climate, corruption, the Pact for the Future, sustainable development, and women's participation in the defence sector. See what happened here.