The Governance Role of Civil Society and Media

Monitoring Ukraine’s Security Governance Challenges:Security Sector Governance: The Role of Democratic Institutions

&International Best Practices

CONFERENCE II: 16-17 March 2016

Ms Karina Priajina. RA NIS Programmes. Office of the Deputy Director. DCAF

+41 22 730 95 44k.priajina@dcaf.ch

The Role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Security Sector Governance (SSG)

• Communication

• Information

• Education

• Representation

• Expertise

• Oversight

• Human Resources

The Role of Civil Society

How can civil society contribute to Good Security Sector Governance

• Research and information• Advocacy• Awareness-raising• Training• Monitoring• Legal assistance• Budget analysis• Capacity-building• Organisational credibility• Cooperation

Key partnerships and networks

• Government

• Parliament

• Ombuds Institutions

• Other CSOs

• Media

• International Organisations

International Organisations

Media

Other CSOs

Ombudsman

Parliament

Government

Key qualities of CSOs

• Strategic vision and Strategic Action

• Integrity• Transparency and

Accountability• Independence• Expertise• Capacity and Organisation• Connections and

Coordination• Credibility

Civil Society and Building Integrity

• Oversight

• Whistle-blowing

• Awareness-raising

• Trainings

• Expertise

• Monitoring

Issues and Challenges• Lack of implementation of good

governance legislation • Lack of tools and infrastructure for

oversight and participation• Media concentration• Over-complicating SSR issues and

topics (exclusive language)• Lack of coordination between

CSOs • Lack of whistle-blower protection• Secrecy culture of the Security

Sector• Corruption• Lack of capacity and organisation

Recommendations• Cooperation and coordination• Clear legal provisions • Effective implementation • Organised and informed donor support• Language should be simple and

understandable• Debate should encourage public

participation • Institutionalised channels for

communication• Oversight and monitoring• Awareness raising on Building Integrity• Specialised expertise and trainings for

security sector personnel, parliamentarians, civil society and the public.

Conclusions

• Civil Society plays a crucial role in SSG. It contributes to making the Security Sector and the Government transparent, accountable, representative, effective, efficient, legitimate democratic.

• Civil society needs space and tools to fulfil its SSG role.

• Without a healthy and active civil society, there is no democracy.

All the publications featured in this presentation are

available at: www.dcaf.ch