Let’s talk about security - and the lack of it. How it affects society when people are not feeling safe and secure.
This is Sofia and her family. Her daughter is a journalist, living under threat. It began when she uncovered how high ranking military officials enriched themselves on arms trade. And how the smuggling fuelled conflicts between rebel groups operating in the border area.
People fed up with violence and corruption are demonstrating in the streets. Chaos erupts and the police calls for reinforcements by the military, who brutally beats down the protesters. Opposition activists are arrested and many of them disappear without a trace. Authorities don’t answer any questions - they just refer to national security. While shelves at supermarkets are becoming more and more empty, high ranking police and military officials are driving around in new cars.
Every day, Sofia’s son gets angrier. When a friend of his takes off to join a rebel group involved in the fighting he decides to come along. Nobody else seems to listen to the people.
But while he is with the rebels, he sees how they force farmers off their land, how they plunder, kill and assault women and girls. He flees the violence but is arrested by the police when he tries to return home.
Sofia and her husband try to find out where their son is being held and if his case is going to court. After many phone calls her husband is asked to come to the police station, but once there he receives only veiled threats. If the family pursues this matter he risks losing his position at the security company. And for a man of his ethnic minority it will be hard to get a new job.
Sofia sees how discrimination and frustration makes it easier for rebel groups and criminals to attract youth. She engages in advocacy work for an organisation that promotes human rights and tries to prevent recruitment of young people to violent groups.
There is a growing demand for change. In the next elections, the people choose a new reform-minded government. Actors within the security sector, with a mandate to use force, as the police and military, are brought under civil control and democratic governance. The people and their representatives now have more influence and authorities become increasingly transparent. Conflicts deescalate and a peace agreement is signed. The rebels lay down their weapons and transform into a political party.
Members of parliament react to Sofia’s daughter’s articles. High ranking military and police, as well as politicians who held power, are called to hearings. There is a thirst for the truth - about persecutions and disappearances - and for accountability. People who were imprisoned without a legitimate legal process are released. Sofia’s son is one of them.
Organisations like Sofia’s are given the opportunity to influence new law proposals regarding human security. Sofia herself enters politics. One of the issues she is pursuing is the audit of authorities to ensure that they abide by the law.
When conflicts end, the state’s arms expenditures decrease. More police officers and civil investigators can be employed. Sofia’s husband is hired by the local police. His colleagues are men and women from all parts of society. They trust that salary will be paid every month and bribes and corruption are dropping. All these reforms increase the trust in the security providers, now with the focus to deliver human security.
FBA, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, provides training and advice to conflict-affected countries to support national peacebuilding processes.
We support nations in developing and reforming the security sector for it to become more transparent, accountable affordable and effective.
We are a government agency for peace, security and development, under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Sweden. Our work is part of the Swedish development cooperation.
When the population trusts the state and the security sector it creates a feeling of safety and security. People gain confidence to invest in the nation, and want to be part of re-building it. This creates development and sustainable peace.
29 сен 2024
