Photo: DCAF/Nada Harib
Creation of DCAF
In October 2000, in Geneva, the President of the Swiss Confederation Adolf Ogi and representatives of 22 other states and the Canton of Geneva sign our Founding Act and form DCAF’s first Foundation Council.
Defining the concepts of good governance and human rights principles
The UN Commission on Human Rights adopts the resolution on ‘The Role of Good Governance in the Promotion of Human Rights’. The concepts of good governance and human rights are mutually reinforcing. Human rights principles provide a set of values to guide the work of governments and other political and social actors, and a set of performance standards against which they can be held accountable. They also inform the development of legislative frameworks, policies, programmes, budgetary allocations, and other measures that create good governance.
Adoption of the Women Peace and Security resolution
The blueprint for gender and peacekeeping work for the Department of Peace Operations is rooted in the Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security resolution”, the first one to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women. The resolution stresses the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping.
Photo: DCAF/Radhika_Chalasani
Acknowledging the importance of SSG/R: the OECD DAC Guidelines
The guidelines state that a democratic and accountable security sector helps prevent the outbreak and recurrence of violent conflict and provides the basis of stability for economic and social development. This marks a major shift in donor attention and acknowledgement of the importance of SSG/R in helping to create the conditions for sustainable development.
Photo: NATO
A Concept for European Community Support for Security Sector Reform
Recognizing that SSG is a cross-cutting issue, the Concept sets out principles and norms for community engagement in reforms based on relevant policy frameworks and support in different countries and settings. It outlines the rationale for taking a more coordinated and strategic approach to SSR activities falling under various policy instruments.
Addressing organized and serious cross-border crime in Southeast Europe
The “Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe” (PCC SEE) is a multilateral treaty ratified by the parliaments of six EU and six non-EU Member States. It provides a legal framework for addressing organized cross-border crime in the region. The PCC SEE Secretariat, hosted and supported by DCAF at its regional office in Ljubljana, serves as a technical expert that supports the implementation of the PCC SEE.
Photo: DCAF
SSR recognized as an essential element of stabilization and reconstruction process in post-conflict environments
The Security Council stresses that reforming the security sector in post-conflict environments is critical to the consolidation of peace and stability, promoting poverty reduction, the rule of law and good governance. A professional, effective and accountable security sector - and accessible and impartial law-enforcement and justice sectors - are equally necessary to lay the foundation for peace and sustainable development.
Bridging the gap between policy and practice with the OECD DAC Handbook on Security System Reform
DCAF contributes to the OECD DAC Handbook on Security System Reform: Supporting Security and Justice, a cornerstone text offering guidance to operationalise the 2005 DAC Guidelines. Highlights of DCAF’s engagements are referenced in the handbook, namely our working group on legal aspects of security governance, and our parliamentary staff training programme to help sponsor and train local advisors in South East European parliaments.
Photo: DCAF/Ines Della Valle
Linking security, human rights and development
The UNSG Report “Securing Peace and Development” reflects the growing importance of SSR at the global level and the need for the international community to address it in an efficient, coherent , and coordinated manner. The report underlines that security, human rights and development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing conditions for sustainable peace, the fundamental elements of which can only be achieved within the framework of rule of law.
Adoption of the Montreux Document
The result of a joint initiative by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), adopted by 17 States. It reaffirms the obligations of States under international law, in particular international humanitarian law and human rights law related to the activities of private military and security companies.
Photo: DCAF/Phototek Media Lab
Launch of the International Conference for Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces
Since its first meeting in 2009, the conference has brought together hundreds of representatives of ombuds institutions from over 70 countries to share experiences and best practices for effective oversight of the armed forces. By supporting their work, DCAF contributes to the democratic governance of the security sector and the respect for human rights within the armed forces.
Photo: DCAF/Nicolas Reméné
New call to increase the equal participation of women in peace and security
In its Statement by the President of the UN Security Council “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: optimizing the use of preventive diplomacy tools” the Security Council reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and peacebuilding. It also reiterates its call to increase the equal participation and representation of women in preventive diplomacy and all related decision-making processes regarding conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
Photo: DCAF/Nada Harib
Creation of the Trust Fund for North Africa
The Fund offers security sector reform and governance assistance to help prevent and address risks of instability, fragility, and violence in the North Africa region. As a pooled funding instrument, it provides fast, flexible, long-term assistance to local governments, parliaments, security institutions, civil society, and communities in Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Promoting due diligence and human rights good practices with the ICRC
DCAF combines forces with the International Committee of the Red Cross to create the Security and Human Rights Knowledge Hub, which promotes responsible business conduct in complex and conflict-affected environments. We provide a comprehensive range of resources and tools on responsible security management and human rights due diligence – a process through which companies identify and address the impact of their operations on local populations.
Photo: DCAF
African Union Policy Framework on Security Sector Reform
In its first Framework on SSR, the African Union (AU) reiterates its recognition of, and commitment to, international norms and standards in security sector reform. The AU framework stems from a recognition of the continuing gap between existing approaches to SSR and deficits in the delivery and governance of security in many AU Member States.
Photo: DCAF
First stand-alone UN resolution on security sector reform
The UN Security Council resolution 2151 “The maintenance of international peace and security: security sector reform: challenges and opportunities” reaffirms the value of SSR in stabilizing countries recovering from conflict and resolves to prioritise reform aspects in both peacekeeping and special political missions. It also emphasizes the centrality of national ownership for effective security sector reform processes.
DCAF’s headquarters move to the Maison de la Paix
Together with the other two Swiss-funded ‘sister’ centres, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, DCAF’s moves its headquarters to the Maison de la Paix in the heart of International Geneva. The unique style of building is designed to be a meeting place for reflection and action in the field of promoting peace and security.
Creation of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform
DCAF is one of five founding members of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, which facilitates connections between institutions to advance peacebuilding initiatives. Its flagship event is the Geneva Peace Week, a leading annual global forum to share knowledge and practice on a diverse range of topics related to peace across contexts and disciplines.
Photo: DCAF
United Nations adopts the Sustainable Development Goals
In Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations formally establishes the link between security and sustainable development: “Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security; and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development.” Sustainable Development Goal 16 focuses on creating peace, justice and strong institutions, which shares many common objectives with SSG/R.
Photo: DCAF
Creation of the Security and Human Rights Implementation Mechanism
The SHRIM is a multi-donor fund created by DCAF to support responsible business conduct and the protection of human rights, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The SHRIM helps improve security for people and their communities by funding locally-led and cost effective multistakeholder projects that include the private sector, civil society, and government officials.
Adoption of UN resolutions on sustaining peace
Resolutions of the General Assembly (A/RES/70/262) and Security Council (S/RES/2282) emphasize the importance of conflict prevention shifting the peacebuilding focus of the UN to address not only the symptoms, but also the root causes of conflict. They stress that a professional, accountable and effective security sector is critical to the consolidation of peace and stability by supporting rule of law, access to justice and good governance, the extension of legitimate state authority, and helping to prevent countries from lapsing or relapsing into conflict.
Developing an EU-wide strategic framework to support security sector reform
This new policy framework aims to enhance the EU's effectiveness in promoting and supporting partner countries' efforts to ensure security for individuals and the state. Based on the assumption that security should be anchored in respect for the rule of law, human rights and good governance, the framework applies to all EU actors, instruments, and contexts.
Photo: DCAF
Creation of the North Macedonia Pooled Fund for Intelligence and Security Sector Reform
The Fund is established to coordinate donors’ support for efforts of the North Macedonian authorities to strengthen accountability and oversight of the intelligence and security sectors. Reforms are designed to align legal frameworks and institutional capacities with Euro Atlantic principles and best practices as part of the country’s objective of European Union membership.
Photo: DCAF
Creation of the Elsie Initiative for women in peace operations
This multistakeholder initiative aims to accelerate the pace of change in national security institutions to enable more uniformed women to participate meaningfully in United Nations peace operations. Through the Elsie initiative, DCAF creates the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) methodology, and then helps countries implement the robust process to identify and address their own challenges and opportunities to increase women’s participation.
DCAF gets a new name
Over nearly 20 years, DCAF’s founding mandate and the concept of “democratic control of armed forces” has evolved into an expansive, inclusive vision of governance that engages a wide cross section of stakeholders and serves as a vital pillar of peace, security, and sustainable development. To reflect that change, we renamed ourselves DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance.
First edition of the DCAF Days in Brussels, Belgium
Building on the long-time partnership between the European Union and DCAF, DCAF Days is launched as a space for dialogue to develop a shared analysis of current SSG/R trends and needs, identify opportunities for engagement, and reflect critically on what is working well and what isn’t.
Photo: DCAF/Irina Popa
UN resolutions 2538 and 2553 on women peacekeepers
On the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the United Nations Security Council emphasizes the critical importance of women’s involvement in peace processes. It calls on States, the UN, and regional multilateral organizations to, “strengthen their collective efforts to promote the full, effective, and meaningful participation of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations at all levels and in all positions, including in senior leadership positions”.
DCAF turns 20
“Over the past two decades DCAF has become a leading and renowned actor on security sector governance and reform.” Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations at Geneva
Update of the Gender and Security Toolkit
The Gender and Security Toolkit created by DCAF, OSCE/ODIHR, and UN Women is a set of practical tools and policy guides to promote gender equality and integrate a gender perspective in the security and justice sectors. Drawing on the past decade of policy innovation and best practices, it highlights what success looks like and how it can be achieved.
Photo: Orjan F.Ellingvag
Supporting the Swiss government on the United Nations Security Council
The Swiss government’s four thematic priorities for its two-year term are peacebuilding, protection of civilians in armed conflicts, climate security, and strengthening the efficiency of the Security Council. A large number of UN mandates that include an SSG/R component will be subject to debate and renewal during Switzerland’s time on the Council. DCAF has been engaged to provide the Swiss government with expert analysis on the SSG/R elements in UN mandates and their contributions to peace and security.
DCAF has 16 offices on four continents
DCAF continues to expand worldwide with the opening of its newest country office in Chișinău, Moldova. Over 23 years supporting reform processes in more than 70 countries, DCAF has earned a reputation as the pre-eminent global expert in security sector reform and governance.
Photo: DCAF
The OSCE Code of Conduct for security forces turns 30
Adopted in 1994, the OSCE’s Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security is a politically binding instrument that calls for the democratic governance not only of the military, but also other security forces including paramilitary, police, and intelligence services. The Code considers democratic governance of the security sector to be an essential element for stability and security.
Creation of the Pact for the Future
The adoption of the United Nations Pact for the Future marks a significant step forward in global cooperation on issues such as sustainable development and international peace and security. The Pact promotes a multilateral system that reflects the realities of today and that delivers for everyone, everywhere. DCAF contributed to the consultation phase of this historic document and some of our recommendations on SSG/R have been reflected in the final text of the Pact.