Security

In many of the conflict areas where we work, people face daily threats to their rights, their physical safety or even their lives. Security is one of the main requirements for a peaceful society, and working with governments, civil society and community groups to ensure that it is provided is one of the major elements of strategic peacebuilding.

To find out more about our work on security, click on the links below:

Small Arms and Light Weapons Monitoring the Implementation of Small Arms Controls Biting the Bullet Gender and the UN Programme of Action Security Sector Reform

Security in the peacebuilding context does not mean national security, protecting states from external enemies – but rather, human security, which means protecting the individual within the context of the household and community in which he or she lives.

Freedom from want is about ensuring that basic human needs such as food and healthcare are met. Freedom from fear is about ensuring that people are protected from threats to their rights and their safety. The two are closely linked – if people’s basic human needs are not met, then the potential for violent conflict increases; if civilians are too afraid to leave their houses for fear of attack, or refugees stay away from their homes because they feel that it would be unsafe to return, both society and the economy suffers. Insecurity is therefore a major obstacle to post-conflict reconstruction, sustainable development and the alleviation of poverty.

We believe that personal security is a basic human right that all governments must provide. We therefore work with governments and civil society to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and improve the ability of the security sector (police, military and intelligence services) to provide security for all citizens.

This involves:

• Research with partners in conflict zones to develop an understanding of what kinds of insecurity people experience and what makes this insecurity persist.
  
• Monitoring the implementation of international agreements on arms proliferation
  
• Making policy recommendations on security issues at national and international levels
  
• Bringing together government and civil society (NGOs, journalists, academics) to discuss and analyse security issues
  
• Providing practical training and support for civil society (human rights NGOs, journalists, academics) to help them contribute to the reform of the security sector in their countries
  
• Providing specialist support and advice on security issues to International Alert’s regional programmes in conflict zones
  
  

For more information contact Charlotte Watson

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Last updated: February 2006