This SSR Backgrounder is about the roles and responsibilities of national armed forces in good security sector governance (SSG). The armed forces are a cornerstone of state and human security, but their legitimacy and effectiveness depend on fulfilling their mission accountably within a framework of democratic, civilian control, rule of law and respect for human rights. This backgrounder explains how good SSG can improve both accountability and effectiveness in the interests of state and human security.

This SSR Backgrounder answers the following questions:

• What are the armed forces?
• What are the roles of the armed forces in good SSG?
• How does democratic civilian control of the armed forces contribute to good SSG?
• What are typical features of democratic civilian control of the armed forces?
• How do the armed forces contribute to effective democratic civilian control?
• How does SSR affect the armed forces?