The purpose of this paper is to inform the evolving discussion on the UN's role in SSR by taking a broad overview of current UN approaches to security sector reform. Following a brief introduction of the SSR concept, this paper will first touch upon existing UN policy frameworks that are relevant to SSR. It will then review institutional actors within the UN system engaged in SSR activities. This is followed by the development of a tentative profile of UN SSR activities. The paper ends by summarising key findings and raises a number of questions for further discussion.

The paper was presented on 7 July 2006 in Bratislava and co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, with the assistance of DCAF.