S/PV.7161Resumption1 Security Council

The President: In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Greece Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania to participate in this meeting. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Delegations with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate the texts in writing and to deliver a condensed version when speaking in the Chamber. I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Mr. Eler (Turkey): We thank the Nigerian presidency for organizing an open debate on this important issue, and welcome the first-ever stand-alone draft resolution on security sector reform (SSR). One of the most important questions on post- conflict peacebuilding relates to the ways and means to ensure the viability of peace. Security sector reform lies at the core of this debate. A mismanaged and dysfunctional security sector can significantly challenge sustainable development, stability and peace. On the other hand, a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated approach to security sector reform will help form functional, effective and economically viable States. As such, approaching security sector reform as part of a comprehensive and inclusive peacebuilding strategy and coupling our efforts with the broader framework of strengthening the rule of law is of utmost importance. Also, support to the security sector, especially in terms of resources, training and institutional capacity-building, should continue after the termination of peacekeeping operations, if needed. The role of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund in security sector reform is crucial in assisting national authorities to define and implement a credible security reform strategy. Every society has its own particular structures, needs and experiences with conflict. The experience of the past 20 years has shown that one-size-fits-all approaches do not produce viable results. It should be the primary responsibility of the host country to define the shape and direction of security sector reform. On the other hand, the norms and principles that have been developed by the United Nations and elaborated in the Secretary-General's reports and United Nations documents provide a general framework that should be taken into account in security sector reform. Rule oflaw and human rights standards are of particular importance in that regard. While governments have the central role to play, SSR activities must be extended to include the broader population and ensure the needs of all citizens in an inclusive manner. In addition, collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including regional and subregional organizations, domestic stakeholders and civil society is essential to preventing duplication and to making optimal use of scarce resources. Needless to say, it is necessary to sufficiently address the root causes of conflicts, the solutions of which lie at the very heart of communities and groups in terms of their aspirations and legitimate wishes. Political reconciliation among the parties to a conflict through mediation, negotiation and facilitation as the main instruments is among the primary methods to be employed in the peacebuilding endeavour. Mainstreaming gender issues and ensuring women's participation in security sector reform, as well as the more general peace processes and conflict resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, recovery and mediation efforts is of utmost importance. Turkey prioritizes security sector reform activities as part of its global engagement for peace. Turkish peacekeepers continue to serve in various United Nations, NATO and European Union missions across the globe, including in Afghanistan, Africa, the Balkans and the Middle-East, where they contribute to the training of security personnel as well as capacity- and institution-building of military and security forces. In the same vein, Turkey has robust security cooperation, particularly with Afghanistan, Somalia and other countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia on a wide range of issues, from providing technical assistance and strengthening civilian and law enforcement institutions to providing training courses to law enforcement officials. Bilateral agreements have been signed with a large number of countries including Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, Mongolia, Libya, C6te D'Ivoire and many countries in South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa, on various aspects of support to security reform. Training is prioritized by Turkey. Between 1997 and 2013, more than 20,000 foreign law enforcement officials from 54 countries - mainly in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia i benefitted from various professional and vocational training courses held by the Turkish National Police. The Police Vocational Training Centre in Sivas, which has trained more than 1,500 Afghan National Police cadets since 2011, is only one example. Likewise, hundreds ofpolice officer candidates from various countries have attended graduate or undergraduate studies at the Turkish Police Academy. The Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime, established in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, has been playing an important role in boosting regional efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime through its training and capacity-building programmes for countries in need. Solutions in the field of security sector reform can be viable only if they are applied within a comprehensive framework of peacebuilding, comprising several elements in the humanitarian, development, democratization and governance fields. Turkey employs this comprehensive, multidimensional and synchronized approach in places such as Somalia, South-Eastern Europe and Afghanistan, enriching its efforts in the security area to include humanitarian aid, local development, the construction of basic infrastructure, education, health and support to peace processes. Let me conclude by thanking the Nigerian presidency, Member States and all relevant United Nations bodies that engage in conducting and enhancing the important practice of security sector reform.

The President: I give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Mr. Mahmoud (Egypt): I wish to pay tribute to the Nigerian presidency of the Security Council for organizing this important debate on the issue of security sector reform (SSR), which is of significant importance to all countries, especially those emerging from conflict. Today's debate in the Security Council is adequately justified, as 24 out of 47 resolutions adopted by the Security Council in 2013 made explicit reference to SSR, and 14 peacekeeping and special political missions are currently mandated to provide SSR support to host Governments. Today's debate is an integral part of a broader ongoing discussion about the interlinkages between peace and security, on the one hand, and the prosperity of people on the other, as well as about the complementarities between conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities and their respective impacts at different stages of conflict resolution while supporting building the institutional capacities of States emerging from conflicts. Security sector reform is imperative in the context of United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In that context, Egypt emphasizes that national ownership is not only a prerequisite for SSR but also the backbone of any viable SSR programme. The challenge is not to conceptualize national ownership but rather to operationalize it in such a manner that fully guarantees that SSR remains a demand-driven process. The relevance of SSR to the actual needs of each country in post-conflict situations is solely dependent on the ability of that country to be fully engaged in the design, implementation and monitoring of all SSR activities. National ownership and international support considerations should not be seen as competing with each other. Egypt believes that security sector reform is not a goal to be pursued in isolation from addressing other societal challenges to peace and security in countries emerging from conflicts, such as youth unemployment, organized crime, poverty eradication and the lack of adequate education and health services. However, there are no easy answers or responses to the complexity of all those challenges. No one size fits all. We need to avoid expanding SSR to encompass every challenge in one single process, in order to attain the desirable results and deliverables. Moreover, Egypt underlines that international support to security sector reform must be anchored in broader national institution-building efforts that aim to address the social and economic causes of conflicts and the complex security environments to be found in countries emerging from conflicts. While acknowledging the Security Council's mandate in the domain of peace and security, we need to bear in mind its limited membership. Hence, Egypt believes that the development of a United Nations strategy for SSR must take place in the General Assembly, in order to ensure that its formulation, including its scope, mandate and constraints, is carried out through an inclusive intergovernmental process that guarantees the full participation of the wider membership of the United Nations in such an important debate, taking into account the primary responsibility and the sovereign right of any concerned country to determine its national priorities in that regard. In conclusion, we also believe that the Peacebuilding Commission is in a better position to coordinate the activities of the different organs and agencies of the United Nations in that regard, particularly in light of the experience that the Commission has gained through its engagement with the countries on its agenda.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of New Zealand.

Mr. McLay (New Zealand): New Zealand thanks Nigeria for its continued leadership on the issue of security sector reform (SSR), a commitment that is all the more important because most Council-mandated SSR activities take place on the African continent. Nigeria's perspective-indeed, the experience of all African States-must therefore be prominent in any SSR setting. New Zealand welcomes today's proposed adoption of the first-ever stand-alone draft resolution on SSR. The draft resolution underlines the considerable progress we have made since the Council's first open debate on the issue in 2007 (see S/PV.5632). It is progress that has required acknowledgment of the nature and significance of the SSR challenge; it is progress that has required development of a more comprehensive, coherent and coordinated normative framework; and it is progress that has required practical operational tools for the United Nations effective work in that area. The engagement of local actors, the importance of close cooperation with regional organizations, the need for the involvement of all stakeholders, including women, and the key, underpinning need for a rule of law environment are all rightly stressed in today's draft resolution. SSR is a long-term process - hence the progerss that the draft resolution records - one that requires both concerted commitment from national authorities and sustained engagement by international partners. The Security Council has a critical role to play in laying the foundations for those efforts; but other bilateral and United Nations partners also play very important roles. It is therefore vital that the Council is able to coordinate more effectively with those actors. SSR extends beyond peacekeeping, and it must be considered across the entire peacebuilding continuum. SSR challenges occur in a wide variety of settings, from fragile and conflict-affected States with ineffective security sectors, through to States emerging from conflict and seeking United Nations support for the next phase of their development. However, considerable scope still remains for the Council to coordinate more effectively with, and to learn from, regional and United Nations country team partners in order to ensure that assistance is tailored to specific national needs and realities, and that gains can be sustained beyond the life of a given mission. The Peacebuilding Commission, with its country-specific configurations, has particular competence in that regard, so the Council needs to find new and better ways of working in close partnership with the Commission. SSR is often a complex, politically charged process that entails significant risk; however, in some situations, it can represent the single most important investment that international partners can make in a country's future. New Zealand is an active contributor to SSR, particularly in the justice sector, both bilaterally and through United Nations missions. That experience has taught us valuable lessons about managing the difficult transition from providing SSR programmes through peacekeeping missions to longer-term assistance through bilateral support, as was the case with our policing assistance to Timor-Leste after the withdrawal of the United Nations mission in 2012. For us, that Timor-Leste experience also underscored the importance of national ownership as a prerequisite for successful SSR. Indeed, the United Nations discussions on SSR rightly acknowledge that the success of SSR processes depends on the sustained political will of the country concerned. New Zealand therefore agrees with Egypt that a core objective must be to assist national political leadership of SSR, and bringing international technical assistance to the national, regional and subregional level, where local actors can apply it to their unique local situation. New Zealand therefore joins Turkey and Egypt in urging that the Council avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it should focus on enabling national authorities to undertake their own, inclusive SSR processes. Recent history demonstrates that no one has a monopoly of wisdom on managing SSR processes. Particularly, we have learned that what works at one time, in one place, will not always work at a later time. If SSR fails and there is a return to violence, then the loss of investment by the host country and by the wider international community can be huge. We must all therefore approach the SSR challenge openly and inclusively, while constantly reviewing whether the process is working and adapting our efforts accordingly. With that commitment, and working with those who have practical, on-the-ground regional experience, we can certainly make the progress on security sector reform that is recorded in today's draft resolution.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Malaysia.

Mr. Haniff (Malaysia): First and foremost, I wish to commend you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting on "Security sector reform: challenges and opportunities", and for preparing the concept note (S/2014/238, annex) that forms the basis of today's debate. I also wish to thank the Secretary- General for his comprehensive briefing. Malaysia would like to associate itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of Iran on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. My delegation takes note of the Secretary General's report (S/2013/480) on strengthening the United Nations comprehensive support to security sector reform. The report highlights the ongoing work and recommendations on how to strengthen the work of the United Nations in supporting security sector reform (SSR). My delegation also wishes to commend the efforts and important progress made by the United Nations in security SSR over the years, particularly in implementing the recommendations contained in the report of January 2008 entitled "Securing peace and development: the role of the United Nations in supporting security sector reform" (S/2008/39). Indeed, we have seen much progress and improvement in the area of SSR. That notwithstanding, the rapid changes in, and complexity of, today's conflicts necessitate continuous review and enhancement of United Nations SSR support. My delegation would like to reaffirm that SSR must be premised on - and not overlook - the fundamental principle ofnational ownership. Only through a process of dialogue, reconciliation and consultation will SSR succeed. That is important as the views, sentiments and sensitivities of the people should not be replaced by an approach that negates the legitimacy of local stakeholders. In that regard, Malaysia concurs with the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report that national ownership of SSR processes must be inclusive so as to increase the confidence in, and legitimacy of, security institutions. It is essential that SSR be led by the legitimate authorities of the respective Member States, in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders, including all levels of Government, security sector institutions, civil society and non-State actors. Apart from lending credibility to the SSR process, the involvement of national stakeholders in negotiations on SSR will also play a pivotal role in ensuring that related SSR provisions are better tailored to respond to specific national circumstances and challenges. While the importance of national ownership reigns above all, Malaysia is well aware that SSR will require financial resources. We have seen such SSR initiatives under the Peacebuilding Commission. In that regard, the training of personnel, the development of skills, the formulation of legal frameworks and the building of national security infrastructure require substantial funding. Sufficient funding must therefore be made available to ensure successful SSR efforts. Externally funded SSR processes often risk undermining sustainability and neglecting national ownership. The Security Council could do its part in that regard by engaging national authorities in formulating appropriately tailored Security Council mandates that are better suited to national circumstances. Experience has shown that sufficient funding alone may be half of the solution. Capacity and expertise are also important aspects contributing to SSR. Countries that are emerging from conflict can learn from others' successful experiences. Partnerships through South- South cooperation in such areas as identifying civilian experts will be beneficial in developing system-wide SSR. We feel that Member States should seriously consider developing links to identify civilian capacities that support SSR and institution-building. Considering the amount of work and resources that has been, and will continue to be, channelled to SSR processes, the Security Council should also place appropriate emphasis on monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. While it is easier to measure quantitative output, more often than not qualitative impact contributes more significantly to addressing inherent social issues and the long-term development of SSR processes. In that regard, Malaysia supports the call for the United Nations to enhance its monitoring and evaluation capacities. Again, monitoring and evaluation priorities and mechanisms must be drawn up according to the different circumstances and complexities faced by the countries undergoing reform. Turning to the prioritization of SSR, Malaysia is of the View that planning should be undertaken early on, when peacekeeping missions are formulated. Experience has shown that countries in transition require continuing engagement even after the initial stabilization stage. In that connection, my delegation calls for better coordination among the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, Force Commanders and the respective United Nations agencies when developing comprehensive approaches on SSR. To conclude, my delegation welcomes and supports the Security Council draft resolution on SSR initiated by Nigeria. The draft resolution is indeed timely, considering the increasing significance and immense contribution of SSR in the work of the United Nations in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Malaysia is certain that the draft resolution will reaffirm the United Nations' commitment to a comprehensive approach in support of SSR processes.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Estonia.

Mr. Kolga (Estonia): At the outset, let me thank Nigeria for convening the Council's open debate on security sector reform and for the very comprehensive concept note (S/2014/238, annex). This is the second open debate, out of three in total, during this presidency and Estonia, as a supporter of the enhanced openness and transparency of the Council, would like to congratulate the Nigerian presidency for this effort. It is important that all of the States that are not members of the Council are given an opportunity to contribute to the discussions on issues related to the world's peace and security. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing, and the Council for the draft resolution on security sector reform that is to be adopted later on. Estonia also aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union (EU). As it is the first time that Estonia takes the floor on this important issue, we would like to commend Slovakia's leadership in adding it to the Council's agenda. The importance of security sector reform (SSR) in the global peace and security agenda cannot be underestimated. "Security is the bedrock upon which States are built" is stated in the concept note, and we cannot agree more. Weak security institutions cannot prevent the outbreak of conflict, and in a post- conflict situation they often cannot avoid a country's relapse into chaos. Therefore, support to such reform is one of the most important tasks of the international community - not only in order to maintain peace and security in a country, but also to restore the rule of law and protect human rights. Let me make some observations in that respect. First, one of the key factors for success is an inclusive reconstruction and stabilization process. SSR is not a purely technical exercise in reforming defence forces or law enforcement agencies; rather, it is part of a wider political process in which the lead role of national authorities is crucial. The best guarantee for durable stability and successful reform and change is the involvement of all factions of society - religious, ethnic and social - including the political groups of the country and women and youth. If that can be achieved, a society's ownership of its future i which is another important factor of success - will be much stronger. As inclusiveness and ownership are fundamental in peacebuilding, they must be considered in peace negotiations. Secondly, very often countries in transition or exiting a conflict need advice and encouragement. The international community has an important role to play in that regard in terms of capacity-building. I would therefore like to commend the United Nations for the steady enhancement of its peacebuilding toolbox and its special attention to SSR as a part of that. The fact that the number of references to SSR in the Council's resolutions has increased considerably and that the majority of mandates for both peacekeeping and special political missions include SSR is very welcome. We also note positively that the membership of the inter-agency Security Sector Reform Task Force has doubled in recent years. SSR has become an integral part of the United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding agenda, achieving greater prominence each year. Thirdly, see that SSR has been genuinely linked to the rule of law. We are also happy to see that linkage mentioned in the draft resolution to be adopted today. But we do not believe that the rule of law should be considered as an end or goal in itself. SSR should be implemented in an environment where the principles of the rule of law are already applicable, in order to avoid a great risk of compromising any peacebuilding or reconstruction process. Finally, there is a lot of SSR-related knowledge available. Many Member States have taken the path of State-building and reformed their security sector as part of that process. A number of Member States have already shared such experience and knowledge with others. That applies also to regional organizations. Experience gained in those processes is worth collecting and sharing with those in need. We believe that the United Nations should coordinate such efforts, and we commend the comprehensive approach already taken by the Secretary-General in that regard. That further enhances the expertise of the United Nations and contributes to improving the Organization's capacity to deliver. Estonia's own record in reforming its security sector could be taken as an example of success. After the end of the Soviet occupation, our nation faced the huge task of building up a society based on principles and values different from those of the totalitarian system - a society based on democracy. That meant vigorous institution-building, adherence to good governance, strengthening the rule of law and placing the human being at the centre of development. SSR became a genuine part of that process. Estonia was lucky to have had many friends and advisers, but real results started to emerge when we understood that the reforms were for our own good, not for the good of someone else. We can assure the Council that the notion of ownership was of the utmost importance, and that is the message that we want to reinforce today. For the past 10 years, we have been sharing that experience with others in supporting capacity-building. Estonia has shared its expertise at the regional level in the Balkans, in the Caucasus, in the Republic of Moldova and in Ukraine. Our police and corrections experts and trainers have been a part of the respective European Union missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Step by step, we are trying to enhance the scope of our involvement and become a part of wider peacebuilding initiatives and missions. In order to share in United Nations efforts, this year, for the first time, the Estonian Government has decided to make a contribution to the Peacebuilding Fund.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mr. Dehghani (Islamic Republic of Iran): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM). At the outset, I would like to convey the Movement's appreciation to you, Mr. President, and the Government of Nigeria for convening this open debate on security sector reform (SSR). I also avail myself of this opportunity to express my appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his report on the issue, entitled "Securing States and societies: strengthening the United Nations comprehensive support to security sector reform" (S/20l3/480). Since 2007, when the Security Council convened its first open debate on the issue (see S/PV.5632), many NAM. member States considered such debates an opportunity for Council members and the wider membership to articulate their views on the role the United Nations should play in SSR. This is a critical issue for all countries emerging from conflict, particularly in Africa. NAM. believes that today's debate is an integral and essential part of a broader discussion about the interlinkage among the concepts of peace, security and development as mutually reinforcing factors, as well about the complementarities among conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We hope that our discussions here will provide guidance to the United Nations on how to build institutional capacities in States emerging from conflict as well as those in transition. The United Nations enjoys a comparative multilateral advantage over other organizations. Due to its universal legitimacy, it is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in policy information and security sector capacity-building and reform. Taking into account the primary responsibility and the sovereign right of any country concerned in determining its national priorities in that regard, we agree with the Secretary-General's report and the Notes of the inter-agency Security Sector Reform Task Force that national ownership "should form the cornerstone of the United Nations approach to SSR". National ownership and SSR tools adapted to each particular country context must be key guiding principles regarding the role of the United Nations in supporting security sector capacity-building and reform. The presidential statement adopted on 21 February 2007 (S/PRST/2007/3) also stresses the critical importance of SSR in post-conflict environments and underlines the sovereignty and primary responsibility of the country concerned to determine the national approach and priorities of SSR. In August 2012, the Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement noted, in the final document of their sixteenth Summit, held in Tehran, the importance of SSR, among other important components of United Nations peacekeeping in post- conflict situations. They stressed that SSR should be integrated in the broad framework of United Nations rule-of-law activities, thus ensuring that SSR activities and structures do not duplicate the work carried out in the rule of law area. They reaffirmed that "the development of a United Nations approach to SSR must take place within the General Assembly, and in accordance with the principle of national ownership, and stressed that the formulation of strategies to SSR, including its scope and mandate, should be carried out through the intergovernmental process and must be context specific". They also emphasized that "SSR should be undertaken at the request of the country concerned, and underlined the primary responsibility and the sovereign right of the country concerned in determining its national priorities in this regard." As for the development of a United Nations approach to SSR, the Non-Aligned Movement believes that such development must take place in the General Assembly to ensure that the formulation of SSR strategies, including scope and mandate, is carried out through the widest possible intergovernmental process. We need thorough discussions in the General Assembly and in the Economic and Social Council to allow for the full participation of the United Nations membership at large in such an important and sensitive issue. The Peacebuilding Commission is also in a good position to coordinate the activities of the different organs of the United Nations system in that regard, particularly in light of the experience that the Commission has gained through its engagement. It is of equal importance that the recipient country be fully in charge of formulating the strategy, identifying gaps, needs and areas of priority and coordinating international support.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands.

Mr. Van Oosterom (Netherlands): Allow me to thank Nigeria, Sir, for organizing this important open debate and for your excellent concept note (S/2014/238, annex), and especially for your leadership on the issue. The lead role Nigeria has taken is of great importance to my country. The Netherlands also welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/480) and the recommendations made therein. Both documents emphasize, on the one hand, the importance of a comprehensive approach to security sector reform (SSR) within the United Nations system, and, on the other hand, the need to focus SSR efforts on national ownership. We fully support those notions. The Netherlands aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union. My Government sees a close relationship between security, the rule of law and development. Allow me to note the fundamental formula of the World Summit of September 2005, that there is no peace without development, no development without peace and no lasting peace or sustainable development without respect for human rights. In post-conflict situations that interconnection between the three elements is even more manifest and security sector reform is relevant to all three. In my statement I will address those, as well as the position of women, fighting crime and the role we see for the United Nations. First, on the rule of law, security sector reform (SSR) cannot be seen separately from the rule of law. Security services must operate within the framework of the law and be accountable to civilian authorities. The civilian perspective should be the main focus of SSR, to make sure that security services deliver human security and not only State security. That will give them legitimacy from a legal perspective and trust from the perspective of society. SSR must be inclusive at all stages. Governance and national ownership of SSR efforts are crucial for their success and legitimacy. Therefore, the political realities of the countries involved must be taken into account. Substantive roles for the relevant non-State actors and structures, national reconciliation dialogues and activities in the field of transitional justice must be ensured. In that respect I would also like to stress that non-governmental organizations, the media and political parties can play an important role in the accountability component of SSR agendas. By establishing SSR based on national ownership within a rule of law context, a foundation will be laid for sustainable development. Secondly, on the position of women, the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, must be a principal guideline in programming and reform in the field of SSR. Steps have been taken to implement the resolution but more remains to be done, as the open debate oflast Friday (see S/PV.7160), also under the able leadership of Nigeria, made clear. Combating violence against women and promoting the recruitment of female members of the security sector should be at the core of the agenda. Thirdly, with regard to crime, let me point out another under-estimated aspect of SSR: international crime. Around the world we witness the destabilizing effects of criminal activities attracted by regions with weak governance and poor security institutions. In such situations, the smuggling of drugs, human trafficking and corruption are thriving and criminal networks are able to establish proxy security forces. That should lead us to think about the link with international crime and how to deal with it in terms of security sector reform. On the role of the United Nations - my fourth point - the Netherlands commends the report of the Secretary-General for developing a more comprehensive United Nations system-wide approach. The relevant United Nations entities involved in SSR and the rule of law and development should cooperate more effectively. That applies both in New York and in the field. The United Nations has a comparative advantage in playing a coordinating role to assist communities in formulating and asking the right questions concerning their SSR processes and to support countries in building a human rights-based security sector and working on sustainable development. The comprehensive approach is therefore crucial. The last point I would like to make is that the Netherlands has been a strong supporter of security sector reform, both through bilateral cooperation programmes as well as in the context of the United Nations. We supported the development of a system- wide United Nations approach. We are a strong supporter of enhanced cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations through the funding of SSR projects in the field. And we support the activities of the Group of Friends of SSR, where inclusive dialogue, policy development and building bridges between a variety of international, regional and national stakeholders are central themes. In conclusion, effective security sector reform is a result of synergy among efforts in the field in peace and security, governance and rule of law, as well as sustainable development. The Netherlands is proud to be a partner of many countries in the world as well as of the United Nations in each of those areas. We look forward to our continued partnership to strengthen peace, promote justice and foster development worldwide.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Mr. Masood Khan (Pakistan): We are pleased to see you, Honorable Foreign Minister Aminu Wali, preside over today's debate on security sector reform (SSR), which is a testament to Nigeria's consistent and strong leadership on that important issue. We commend Ambassador Joy ngu's effective and elegant stewardship of the Security Council this month. The Secretary-General's seminal report (S/20l3/480), the draft resolution to be adopted today and Nigeria's compact concept note (S/2014/238, annex) all steer us from policy-making towards implementation, monitoring and review. As a leading troop-contributing country, Pakistan has actively supported security sector reform in various theatres or peacekeeping operations, including in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Timor-Leste. We, too, can testify that United Nations- led efforts have dramatically transformed the security landscape in those countries. We know from experience that, when security sector institutions collapse, conflicts erupt or societies descend into anarchy or strife, the best way to reverse the Vicious cycle is to restore and strengthen public security institutions. Security sector reform has become a core component of United Nations engagement across peacekeeping and peacebuilding. SSR rightly targets institutions dealing with transitional justice, security and police forces, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the extension of State authority, arms control and management and organized crime. That, in turn, helps in addressing some of the root causes of conflict. A professional, effective and accountable security sector lays the foundation for durable peace, conflict resolution, development and a prevention of a relapse into conflict. We believe that United Nations system-wide institutionalization and responsibility for the security sector should be strengthened. We should build on capacities both in the field and at Headquarters to fully exploit the United Nations comparative advantages. SSR should be conceived and implemented in the overall framework of the rule of law, a viable and transformative security sector that enjoys the confidence of the populations and is responsive to their needs is key to successful transition and exit strategies. The United Nations peacebuilding architecture has an important complementary role in promoting SSR objectives. The General Assembly and its Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations directly contribute to policy formulation and guidance for implementation. The United Nations needs strong partnerships across the spectrum to enhance the performance of security sectors. In that context, Pakistan welcomes the growing consultation and cooperation among the Security Council, the African Union and subregional organizations. The United Nations should also deepen its partnerships with international and regional financial institutions to make SSR more resilient and self-sustaining. There is also the political imperative to have an inclusive SSR process that establishes the legitimacy and acceptability of State institutions. Conscious efforts should be made for early engagement of the national stakeholders to promote national ownership of security sector reform and its internalization. The United Nations and international support must correspond to the host country's priorities. Our debate's focus today is better implementation of SSR mandates and objectives. Implementation suffers due to a lack of timely and adequate resources. Pakistan supports the call to prioritize SSR processes in the missions so that they get the strategic and political attention as well as adequate and predictable resources for sustainable SSR. Along with infrastructure, training and equipment for SSR, attention should also be given to institutional oversight and governance. Today's debate complements the thematic debate organized last week by the President of the General Assembly on ensuring stable and peaceful societies. Last week's debate of the intergovernmental negotiations process, on the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council also underscored the importance of synergy and coordination between the two bodies. The crux of those debates was that the Security Council and the General Assembly must work in tandem. We fully endorse that view.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Senegal.

Mr. Diallo (Senegal) (spoke in French): Allow me to say, Sir, what a pleasure it is to see you take up the presidency of the Security Council and to reiterate to you the full support of my delegation. The choice of the theme of security sector reform (SSR) clearly demonstrates the relevance of this issue that has become central to the peacekeeping and international security architecture. I should like to take this opportunity to express my satisfaction at the forthcoming adoption of the draft resolution on this matter, which clearly illustrates the Council's commitment to so essential an issue. I should also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose report (S/2013/480) provides abundant information on the support of the United Nations to SSR efforts and sheds light on what to expect in future. The reform of the security sector seeks to restore the effectiveness, the professionalism and the legitimacy of the institutions in charge of providing security to civilian populations as part of an inclusive and participatory approach. In practice, however, its implementation reveals a profound complexity that is both linked to the need to convince military and paramilitary personnel of the need to reconfigure the security forces, as well as the need to mobilize various types of resources so that the process has a chance of success. The success of the reform process is based on the premise that increasing the operational capacity of defence forces, law enforcement bodies and penal and immigration administration must be founded on the need to respect the rule oflaw. Such reform also has to take into account the emergence of transnational threats that require the pooling of efforts of the various stakeholders involved. I am thinking, inter alia, of such threats as the trafficking of people, the trafficking of narcotics and weapons, terrorism and organized transnational crime. It is also just as important that the reform of the security sector be firmly rooted in the triad of political consultations, national reconciliation and social and economic recovery. At a time when peacekeeping missions have completed their transformation to take on a multidimensional character, it is more important than ever to incorporate the reform of the security sector in a sustainable process with a particular focus on the prevention of conflicts. It is for all the reasons I have just outlined that the delegation of Senegal is happy to embrace the statement of the Secretary-General in the summary to his report that "the viability of security sector reform efforts depends on the political environment in which reform is carried out." Furthermore, I welcome the significant contribution of the United Nations to national efforts at security sector reform, which is a fundamental pillar essential to development. The establishment of a special inter-agency SSR Task Force in support of the country-specific configurations of the Peacebuilding Commission is a positive response to the need to coordinate in a harmonious way the activity of various stakeholders. The establishment of partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the African Union, as well as subregional organizations, Member States and civil society, also contributes to translating into practice the kind of comprehensive, coherent and coordinated approach that we all call for. It seems to me that that is the very thrust of the proposed fundamental principles that were suggested by the Secretary-General, principles to which the delegation of Senegal fully subscribes. Their aim is to do away with insufficient harmonization and to orient the various interventions on the basis of priorities defined by States in post-conflict situations. I should also like to welcome the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, adopted by the Group of Seven Plus, which seeks to deal with the deep-rooted causes of conflicts. The advances we have just outlined are positive, but to be consolidated they need the Security Council to closely involve the States concerned when elaborating the mandates for peacekeeping operations or special political missions when dealing with SSR. Furthermore, the viability of funding for the reform process as well as the relative failure related to activities of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) remain important issues that need to be taken into consideration. In conclusion, Senegal, would like to reiterate its commitment to elevating the reform of the security sector to the status ofa major pillar in the prevention of the resurgence of conflicts and an essential foundation of development. Faithful to our tradition as a country that has contributed to maintaining international peace and security ever since we achieved our international sovereignty, my country will continue fully to support, responsibly of course, all initiatives aimed at peacebuilding.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Mr. Khan (Indonesia): At the outset, I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's important debate and for your helpful concept note (S/2014/238, annex). My delegation would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his comprehensive briefing. Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of Iran on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Since the Security Council held its first open debate on security sector reform (SSR) in 2007 (see S/PV.5632), the subject, due to its fundamental importance for international peace, security and development, has been acquiring greater recognition. Considering that countries affected by conflicts have different security contexts, and that each will develop its own palette of strategies on security, the justice system and law enforcement suitable to its particular requirements, the significance of national ownership for SSR approaches cannot be emphasized enough. We are therefore pleased that United Nations entities have been increasingly making efforts to have an open and inclusive dialogue with countries on addressing their priorities and improving the United Nations response on how best it can strengthen its support and guidance. Because security-sector-related support in conflicted affected regions must be accompanied by robust support on broader peacemaking, peacebuilding and development, the United Nations emphasis on a comprehensive approach to SSR issues is also very pertinent. It is in that context that Indonesia welcomes the first-ever stand-alone Council draft resolution on security sector reform and the maintenance of international peace and security, to be adopted today. We hope that its implementation will lead to enhanced support on SSR for countries that request it, as well as to strengthened respect for human rights and the rule of law, as essential elements of peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development. As a country that studiously overcame instability and continues to deepen peace and development for its people and the region, Indonesia knows at first hand the challenges of realizing a sound SSR. The SSR process in Indonesia was driven by our political reform towards democracy back in 1998. We started with military reform, which separated the role of the military from politics. We also made a clear and formal distinction between the Indonesian armed forces and the Indonesian police, which increased capacities in both institutions for carrying out their respective responsibilities. Our process reaffirmed the imperative for national ownership, as well as civil society consultation, also because the development of such a sensitive part of the State must meet the expectations of the citizens. Indeed, successful SSR first and foremost serves and protects the people of the country. In this context, and in response to some of the questions posed in the concept note (S/2014/238, annex), Indonesia would like to highlight the following. First, with regard to the United Nations approach to the SSR agenda, SSR work should be focused on post-conflict contexts. While there is a need to support training and professionalization on various security- related aspects in other contexts, it is essential that any process for formulating related strategies in the United Nations system should be carried out in an intergovernmental setting, in close consultation with Member States. Secondly, in order to incorporate the concerns and priorities of conflict-affected countries and to build their national ownership, the Security Council should more meaningfully involve the host States at the earliest stage of creating mission mandates. My delegation underscores the fact that providing security to citizens and the governing security sector is the primary responsibility of the State. Furthermore, we reiterate that any United Nations support for SSR through peacekeeping and other missions must be based on the request of the host country and cater to its particular needs. Thirdly, the success of United Nations efforts on SSR is also dependent on the level of its financial resources, capacities to deliver, professional operations both at Headquarters and in the field, as well as coherence and cooperation among concerned United Nations and Governmental actors. Supporting the "One United Nations" system model, it is our view that the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund can also play a role in increasing the United Nations capacity to support SSR and ensure more predictable and sustained funding for it. Fourthly, Indonesia places high importance on building partnerships and exchanging good practices and lessons learned among countries and regional organizations. As one of the members of the informal United Nations Group of Friends of SSR, Indonesia is actively using that platform to communicate and enhance cooperation with other Member States in dealing with the future challenges of SSR. Fifthly, in order to advance conversations on this issue in the South-East Asia region, Indonesia has undertaken numerous consultations, including by facilitating an international workshop in Jakarta in 2010 with SSR as a major topic. We believe that regional networks of like-minded countries are vital to understanding the local culture, and can greatly enable programmes to support SSR. Therefore, there needs to be regular and more frequent interaction on SSR issues between the United Nations system and regional organizations. Finally, we would point out that SSR is a long-term process that should not be rushed. There is no magic formula for implementing such reform. However, we are sure that today's debate is enriching the perspectives on SSR and on how the United Nations system can better plan and respond in assisting concerned countries. Indonesia will continue to engage actively with all relevant actors on taking forward the discussion on SSR, including by contributing to help develop the United Nations civilian capacities initiative, which offers to improve and expand the needed expertise in countries emerging from conflict.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative from Switzerland.

Mr. Zehnder (Switzerland) (spoke in French): I thank Nigeria for convening this open debate. I will limit my remarks to the three following points. First, Switzerland shares the opinion of the Secretary-General that security sector reform should be placed in the broader context of peacebuilding. This approach considers security sector reform to be a vast multidimensional task that contributes to conflict prevention and a lasting transformation to a peaceful society. That is why it is important not only to better explore the existing links between security sector reform and other dimensions such as the rule of law, human rights and development, but also to reflect on partnerships in this matter. The global focal point for police, judiciary and penitentiary activity coordination for promoting the rule of law after conflicts and other crises could offer the possibility of strengthening these links. We must also strengthen the inclusive nature of security sector reform efforts pursuant to resolution 2122 (2013) by integrating the gender perspective. The importance of this point was brought up on numerous occasions during the open debate in the Security Council last Friday on women and peace and security (see S/PV.7160). Women must included fully and on an equal footing in the security sector reform process and the different needs of men, women, boys and girls must be taken into account. Switzerland will explore this and other possibilities so as to strengthen its support for efforts aimed at strengthening the security sector reform on the ground and at the conceptual level, among others, in discussions held here at United Nations Headquarters. Secondly, we believe it essential that the competent United Nations authorities continue their essential work to draft common standards and technical directives. The publication of the Integrated Technical Guideline Notes for security sector reform was an important step in this process. Given its global reach, the United Nations has an advantage on this issue. We therefore encourage it to pursue action in this important area. Thirdly, the report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/480) underscores the importance of close work collaboration with regional organizations in order, inter alia, to promote local ownership. We fully support this approach. The contributions of regional organizations must be maintained and better linked to United Nations efforts. In this context, I should like to share some of Switzerland's experiences in this area since my country has assumed the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The strengthening of governance in the security sector is among our priorities as Chairman of the OSCE in 2014. Switzerland plans to focus its efforts on two levels - the political level and the technical level. At the political level, we supported the creation of a group of friends for security sector governance, chaired by the Slovak Republic. The objective of the group of friends is to raise awareness among States on the matter of governance of the security sector. At the technical level, we have tasked the secretariat of the OSCE to establish an interdepartmental working group on governance of the security sector, which will be tasked with raising awareness within the OSCE and to intervene as an interlocutor in relevant questions in this area. The working group will also draft internal directives on security sector governance. The Swiss chairmanship also plans to work closely with the United Nations so as to benefit from its experience in governance of the security sector. To that end, a conference will be held in July 2014 with the participation of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The draft resolution that the Security Council will adopt today will provide supplementary support and momentum for security sector reform and thereby strengthen efforts under way throughout the world. We hope that the structures concerned, in particular the security sector unit and specialized teams deployed in peacekeeping operations and in special political missions will enjoy the resources they need to respond to the growing needs in this area. Switzerland remains fully engaged and will continue to be so, including in the informal group of friends.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Mr. Lambertini (Italy): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate and for the useful concept note you have provided (S/2014/238/annex). We appreciate the leading role of Nigeria in shaping and promoting a deeper understanding of the critical issue of security sector reform (SSR). The draft resolution introduced today is a key element of this process and I am pleased to say that Italy has co-sponsored it. I should also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and for his precious engagement in this matter, which has produced the report before us today (S/2013/480). This document gives us a very clear picture of the state of the art, clearly defines the challenges we face and suggests priority avenues of action for the future. Italy aligns itself with the statement made by Ambassador Mayr-Harting on behalf of the European Union, and I should like to make some remarks in my national capacity. We attach Vital importance to security sector reform in countries emerging from conflict. The malfunctioning or mismanagement of this sector exposes society to continual fear and danger of violent death, making civilian life increasingly solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. Max Weber famously defined the State as any human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory. In line with this traditional definition, the security sector is indeed the backbone of the modern State. We must realize, however, that the concept of security has long shifted from a State- and military-centric perspective to an approach that emphasizes human security and the legitimacy and effectiveness of the institutions that provide security and justice. The establishment of an effective, professional and accountable security sector is thus of crucial importance to reducing the potential for internal and external conflict, enhancing the security of citizens, and creating the necessary conditions for development. The existence of a symbiotic, self-enforcing relationship between security and development has long been established in the literature on international relations and in the policies and practices of States. Helping and supporting national authorities in their efforts to build an effective, democratically run security sector is a long-term process. It must be carried out consistent with the overarching principle of national ownership. In fact, the countries concerned have the sovereign right and the primary responsibility to determine their national approach and to outline their priorities for security sector reform. At the same time, the States concerned and the international community as a whole should enhance their efforts to promote inclusiveness in the SSR process by bringing in civil society and vulnerable groups. A particularly critical element, in Italy's view, is the involvement of women in the peace and security discussion and their participation in the national armed and security forces. Italy is proud of its long-standing support of SSR processes in South-Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa at the national level and through international and intergovernmental organizations such as NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union. We are particularly proud of the internationally recognized role of the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), based in Vicenza in northern Italy, which will soon share its headquarters with the NATO Stability Policing Centre ofExcellence. CoESPU makes an outstanding contribution to international efforts to enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of police and security agencies worldwide at both the theoretical and practical levels. The Centre operates as a doctrinal hub and a training centre. It develops doctrine and common operational procedures for the employment of Stability Police Units and the promotion of the rule of law, and teaches operational planning, rules of engagement and international and humanitarian law to personnel from throughout the world. In closing, I am pleased that the hard lessons learned by our brave men and women in the field dovetail with the recommendations put forth in the Secretary-General's report. Restoring public order is unfortunately a necessary but elusive condition of post-conflict situations. In order to avoid a relapse into conflict, achieve a durable peace and pave the way to socioeconomic developmentn we must develop and implement an organic and comprehensive approach to SSR - an approach inspired by the principles of inclusiveness, effectiveness, accountability and good governance, and designed to achieve the ultimate objectives of increasing the security of the people and rebuilding the bonds of trust between public authorities and their citizens.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.

Mr. Sanabria (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I should like first to thank the Nigerian presidency of the Security Council for organizing this open debate and for its concept note (S/2014/238, annex). This debate is on an issue of great importance to the maintenance of international peace and security. We should also like to commend you, Sir, for having put forward a draft resolution that Spain is honoured to co-sponsor. I should also like to congratulate Luxembourg for its outstanding leadership of the Council in March. Spain aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and wishes to add some observations in its national capacity. Spain welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/480), which we consider to be complete and well-focused. We acknowledge the fundamental role of the United Nations in security sector reform (SSR) and its efforts of recent years to improve the coherence and effectiveness of its actions in this area. Security sector reform, and from a wider perspective the strengthening ofthe rule of law in this context, is a key elements in two different areas - ex ante for conflict prevention and ex post for peacebuilding. The international community should help and support countries finding in conflict and post-conflict situations in the development of their civilian capacities and in the strengthening of their institutions. It is critical to move from a reactive culture to conflicts - which is often late and insufficient - to one of prevention. The prevention requires political will and resources to formulate and implement effective strategies. When both elements are combined, the results are success stories such as that of Sierra Leone, with the recent closing of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Mission in Sierra Leone. Security sector reform demands action on several fronts. Stable and predictable legal frameworks must be established; the creation of competent security and police forces that are subject to and enforce the rule of law; the building of an independent and comprehensive legal system accessible to all; and the establishment of an adequate penitentiary system. We must also ensure the protection of society's most vulnerable groups such as women, children and displaced persons. National ownership is, in this area as in many others, key to success. Good planning is necessary if actions designed on the basis of needs and priorities identified by the host country are to be coherent and in line with its decisions and national initiatives. Security infrastructures and institutions must be at the service of the people. Reforms must be inclusive and based on the principles of good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and accountability, all of which are vital in fostering long-term legitimacy, effectiveness and sustainability. We believe that security sector reform requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. Flexibility in its planning, identification of the activities that are most appropriate at every moment, an evolving perspective, a good knowledge of the situation in the field, and a fluid, intense and ongoing dialogue with national actors are crucial. In order to be effective, efforts aimed at security sector reform require a long-term perspective and actions sustained over time. Security sector reform based on the principles I have just mentioned is clearly an essential contribution to ensuring respect for and the implementation of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. On this point, I should like to highlight the importance of the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, of which Spain has been a member for eight years, and ofthe Peacebuilding Fund, ofwhich we are its eighth largest donor. National authorities and international partners also need instruments that allow them to carry out appropriate follow-up and evaluation of their own actions. As my delegation did at the debate on the strengthening of the rule of law in February (see S/PV.7ll3), I should like to highlight the recent initiative of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop indicators that measure the evolution of the functioning ofpolice, legal and penitentiary institutions in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations in the areas of efficiency, capacity, integrity, transparency, accountability and the treatment of vulnerable groups. It is a useful tool for measuring the results and progress of our efforts in these sectors. Spain has supported capacity-building in the security and legal sectors in many countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we have supported capacity- building of the national police forces of Angola and Cape Verde. Through our collaboration with the African Union, we support the African Peace and Security Architecture and the Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism. In Latin America, we have implemented programmes for training and for sharing experiences and good practices in legal reform by collaborating with the creation of specialized prosecutorial offices and by organizing seminars, courses and workshops that address issues such as access to justice - especially by vulnerable groups - medical-legal investigation techniques, and the fight against human trafficking. Since 2007, Spain has promoted and supported the Central American Security Strategy through the Central American Integration System in order to join and harmonize the fight against organized crime. In Arab countries, Spain implements the Masar programme, which is designed to support democratic governance processes and aligns with the needs and priorities identified by national actors, and has supported initiatives of public institutions and civil society in the area of security, justice, penitentiary institutions and human rights. In conjunction with other States members of the European Union, Spain has participated in civilian crisis management missions within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. We are present in training operations in Mali and Somalia and in EUCAP Nestor, EUCAP Sahel and the European Union Operation Althea, which seek to strengthen the security security. In this regard, a Spanish General currently occupies the position of Principal Adviser of the United Nations in the Republic of Guinea and is helping to define the country's security model. Our experience of cooperation with other countries and extensive participation in peacekeeping operations has taught us that strengthening the rule of law and security sector reform is a critical pillar of conflict prevention and the building and strengthening of peace. Peace and security, human rights and development are closely linked and are mutually reinforcing. Spain will continue to actively participate in actions aimed at providing support to the efforts of other countries to establish trustworthy security capacities and institutions that are subject to the law, with the aim of helping to strengthen peace, security and development.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Mr. Boukadoum (Algeria): At the outset, I should like to express to you, Mr. President, the appreciation of Algeria for convening this important open debate on the concept of security sector reform (SSR). I wish to welcome His Excellency Mr. Aminu Bashir Wali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, to our meeting today and thank him for his stewardship of this debate. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Today's debate is an opportunity for Member States to identify and clarify the main characteristics and priorities of the United Nations on SSR, in particular its normative and operational dimensions. We recall that SSR was initially introduced in the United Nations in the context of identifying peacekeeping exit strategies. This concept has evolved significantly, to the point where it is becoming a core component of the Organization's engagement across peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development contexts. We believe that successful SSR is vital to establishing enduring peace and stability in countries that are in a post- conflict peacebuilding phase. In post-conflict contexts, security institutions are often weak and dysfunctional, ineffective in their impact and lacking accepted legitimacy in their foundation. The failure to address such operational and accountability deficits has often undermined the reconstruction efforts of the United Nations and increased the risk ofa relapse into conflict. The purpose is to enhance the quality of security sector governance through a focus on accountability, inclusivity and effective management and oversight. The United Nations should be able to provide assistance in this area, and is particularly well positioned to support such reforms and may have a comparative advantage relative to other partners in providing sector-wide support. Furthermore, the Secretary-General recognizes in his latest report (S/2013/480) that SSR is pertinent across the United Nations peacekeeping, human rights, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and development agendas. At the same time, while much progress has been made, the protracted conflicts, emerging threats and complex crises witnessed in the world today certainly require innovative and flexible responses from the United Nations. To face those challenges, there is a need to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in supporting security sector reform as a key tool in the prevention and management of conflict. That being said, Algeria believes that there is still a lot of work to be done in those areas by enhancing system-wide coherence and coordination, including through the collaborative efforts of the Task Force, and by forging partnerships with regional and subregional organizations. The African Union endeavour in its African Peace and Security Architecture and capacity- building efforts is, in this regard, the perfect example that deserves to be taken into account in this area. The role of the Security Council is crucial in providing strategic guidance and in defining the institutional priorities of the United Nations, in particular due to the fact that security sector reform has become a key component of Security Council mission mandates. Furthermore, Security Council mandates are increasing not only in number but also in complexity in relation to the demands placed on support for security sector reform. There is a need, therefore, to reflect on how these increasing demands are to be met by current United Nations capacities. My delegation would like to emphasize the importance of SSR among other important components in the context of United Nations multidimensional peacekeeping operations and post-conflict situations that should be integrated into the broad framework of United Nations rule-of-law activities, thereby ensuring that SSR activities and structures are not duplicating the work carried out in the rule oflaw area. Algeria believes that the successful implementation of the many tasks that peacekeeping operations could be mandated to undertake in the area of SSR requires an understanding of and action based on a perspective that takes fully into account the fact that security and development are intertwined. Equally, we stress the importance of the mutually reinforcing nature of SSR and all the other components of the peacekeeping operations when it is mandated. Lastly, we think that any development of a United Nations approach to SSR must take place within the General Assembly and in accordance with the principle of national ownership, and that the formulation of SSR strategies, including its scope and mandate, should be carried out through the intergovernmental process and must be context-specific. It is obvious that SSR should be undertaken at the request of the country concerned, and we underline the primary responsibility and the sovereign right ofthe country concerned in determining its national priorities in this regard.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Mr. Rakhmetullin (Kazakhstan): I thank you, Sir, for facilitating the strategic discussions on strengthening the approach of the United Nations to security sector reform (SSR). I also express my warm appreciation to the Secretary-General for his insightful report (S/2013/480) and recommendations on the way forward. As a member of the Group of Friends of SSR, Kazakhstan fully supports all efforts to enhance peace and security, which in turn lead to stable and enduring sustainable development. SSR is gaining increasing importance for addressing war-torn areas and for countries emerging from conflict in Africa. It is therefore critical to understand the newer forms, patterns and manifestations of conflicts and insecurities. Immediate and medium- and long-term plans can be based only on understanding the root causes of conflicts - the accelerators, the triggers and their impacts. Hence, planning for SSR must be based on the current shift from State-centred security to citizen- or people-oriented security; the shift from purely military security to non-military centred security, such as food, environment and socioeconomic security; and the shift from State to non-State actors, with a larger number of stakeholders. Recent political developments, which are taking a most tragic toll of human life, compel us to rethink how secure environments can be achieved as essential prerequisites for the protection of civilians, the rule of law, justice and respect for human rights. Our task becomes all the more challenging when United Nations peacekeeping operations and missions withdraw. Thus, far-sighted and comprehensive reform is headed, providing the vital framework for peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development, which are closely linked to the processes of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration. In addition, all national security policies and mechanisms must also be grounded in regional frameworks due to the transnational nature of security challenges. No reform can take place without providing adequate, modern training in the new concepts of security and upgrading institutions of the military and, especially, the police so that human rights, rule of law and good governance can guide their operations. Recruitment policies should incorporate regional quotas, ethnic/tribal balance and appropriate gender mix, involving women and local communities. There must also be a reorientation of correctional services, customs and the judiciary, which are important components of the security system. These overall efforts call for strengthening the capacity and political will of national authorities and institutions, through political dialogue, with context- specific policies, while also mobilizing the multiplicity of actors. Special consideration must be given to non-State actors, at the regional and international levels alike, interacting with governmental authorities. It is then obvious that new partnerships should be explored, requiring collaboration and commitment at all levels - from regional to international. At the same time, there has to be national ownership of security sector reform, which must be democratic and representative, as this increases confidence in and the legitimacy of security institutions, striking a balance between national security concerns and local needs. SSR must include research, lessons learned, monitoring, oversight and accountability mechanisms, benchmarks and indicators for thorough assessment. In conclusion, Kazakhstan is determined to assist and support United Nations efforts to evolve SSR as a timely and effective to counteract numerous challenges, and we support the draft resolution before the Council.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Czech Republic.

Mrs. Hrda (Czech Republic): The Czech Republic fully shares the views expressed in the concept note (S/2014/238, annex) for today's debate. We thank the Nigerian presidency for having brought this critical issue to the attention of the Security Council and hope that the Security Council will continue to hold open debates on security sector reform (SSR) on a regular basis. We therefore welcome the draft resolution on SSR and hope that it will be adopted today. The Czech Republic would like to join others in announcing our co-sponsorship of the draft. We agree that it is the responsibility of the Security Council as the body primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security to ensure that the necessary priority be afforded to this critical role of the United Nations. The Czech Republic fully aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union, and I would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity. We consider SSR to be a key step in the transition from conflict to sustainable development. Successful SSR is possible only by adhering to the principles of national ownership and deepening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations and civil society. In this context, SSR emerged as a relevant concept addressing the core deficiencies of the State with the aim of improving not only State security but, in a broader sense, human security - that is to say, the security of every single human being within the society. The Secretary-General's report of August 2013 (S/2013/480) clearly outlines the progress within the United Nations system on SSR, but it also shows that there is need for further improvement. In our view, SSR requires a holistic approach and all activities should be dealt with in a coherent and comprehensive manner. It is crucial to involve all parts of the United Nations system in this area. We therefore we welcome the creation of the inter-agency Security Sector Reform Task Force, which covers all important departments of the United Nations Secretariat and its programmes. We also note other ways of deepening this cooperation by involving specialized United Nations agencies in the Task Force. In conclusion, I would like to stress the active participation of the Czech Republic and Czech experts in several Common Security and Defence Policy missions, whose mandate included SSR - in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Mali. My country is also undertaking particular efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security, as well as resolution 1612 (2005), on children affected by armed conflict.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Mr. Mwinyi (Tanzania): At the outset, allow me to join other speakers in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Aminu Wali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, to New York. I would also like to thank you, Sir, for having convened this open debate. We extend our appreciation to the Secretary-General for his briefing on this important matter and his reports on this subject (S/2013/480). This debate is extremely relevant to the work of the Security Council, whose role is not merely to respond to conflicts after they have unfolded but also to prevent them. Security sector reform (SSR) is among the many ways of safeguarding conflict-prone countries and ensuring post-conflict societies do not relapse into conflict, by building strong, transparent and accountable security sector institutions. This debate takes place hardly a week since Tanzania, Japan and the Slovak Republic held a seminar on inclusivity in rebuilding States, focusing on inclusivity in security sector reform. Tanzania pioneered the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission and strongly maintains its belief in the centrality of SSR in rebuilding post- conflict societies. We wish to reiterate some of the issues that we deem absolutely important in advancing SSR, not only in societies emerging from conflicts, but in developing countries in general. First, let me address ownership. It is important that the country in question, where SSR is being undertaken, take full ownership of the process. Ownership entails more than consent. It is also about commitment and, most importantly, inclusivity. To attain the requisite legitimacy, the security sector reform process must involve all stakeholders, including youth, women, traditional leaders, religious leaders and civil society. It is also important that it involve former combatants after peace talks have been exhausted, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration has been accomplished andjustice has been administered. Secondly, on durability, it is of paramount importance that security sector reform be undertaken as an ongoing process rather than an event, particularly when implemented under the mandate of the Council. Post-conflict countries undertaking security sector reform must be assisted until they attain the capability to assist themselves. We also believe that sustainability in the security sector reform process can only be attained if the process is undertaken hand in hand with the development of the concerned countries. Thirdly, on the involvement of regional actors, our involvement in peace processes over the past five decades has clearly demonstrated the importance of regional actors in conflict prevention, resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We encourage the international community and the countries concerned to make effective use of the enormous resources that we can offer to our neighbouring countries in terms of knowledge and skills in the area of security sector reform and others. After all, we aspire to the well-being of their nations and peoples, which is paramount for regional stability and development. We note with great appreciation that such value is fully acknowledged in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, the full implementation of which by all stakeholders is poised to restore peace and stability in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

The President: Members of the Council have before them document S/2014/302, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chad, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by Show ofhands. In favour: Argentina, Australia, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America The President: The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2151 (2014). There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 4.55 pm.