Police Accountability - Current Information » Journal of Security Sector Management Vol 6 Issue 3

Journal of Security Sector Management Vol 6 Issue 3 - November 2008

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01/11/2008

Implementing the Rule of Law in Integrated Missions: Security and Justice in the UN Mission in Liberia Till Blume This article seeks to review the concepts of integrated missions, rule of law, and security sector reform, as well as analyse the United Nations Missions in Liberia's (UNMIL) efforts at integrating both concepts in its implementation plans and procedures. Firstly, an overview of integration efforts will be given. Thereafter, the rule of law coordination and implementation of holistic planning and thinking in UNMIL will be described. At the end of the article, the focus will turn to some of the key challenges and policy implications that come with integrating rule of law and security sector reform. Policing and Formed Police Units during Democratic Transitions Michael D. Wiatrowski, Nathan W. Pino, Anita Pritchard In post-conflict situations, safety and security are major concerns. Increased levels of crime, violence and disorder associated with post-conflict environments may exceed the ability of the police to maintain order, particularly if the police are expected to reform in-line with human rights, democratic values and citizen safety. If the police are given a paramilitary function which will enable them to fight militias and insurgents, it can easily destroy their legitimacy and create a police culture that does not promote democratic development. In addition, the military forces present in a post-conflict environment typically lack the skills to facilitate the transition from rule by force to stability and the rule of law. It may therefore be necessary to create a unique force that can both provide security and also promote transition to a more stable and accountable environment, thus allowing conventional police forces to focus on developing according to democratic values. This paper considers this unique force, its roles, and relationships with conventional police forces, military and peacekeeping forces, and the population in post-conflict situations. Policing in Post-Conflict Environment: Implications for Police Reform in Uganda Elijah Dickens Mushemeza The paper assesses attempts by Uganda to improve post-conflict policing in the greater northern region of Uganda. The paper analyses the causes and impact of the most violent conflicts the country has experienced in recent decades. The paper then describes the current situation of relative stability as a result of peace negotiations and disarmament exercises in the Karamoja sub-region, and the requirements for post-conflict policing. The paper argues that despite the few successes by the police, in particular with regard to de-mining activities, there is an urgent need to reform the police if it is to cope successfully with the continued demands of the post-conflict environment. Reform of policing activities is required immediately to ensure the protection of the population's human rights, and to re-balance inequality in the provision of policing services provided to the public.