Media Statement

04 December 2020

South Africa welcomes the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 2553 on Security Sector Reform

The Government of the Republic of South Africa welcomes the unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2553 on Security Sector Reform (SSR) on 3 December 2020.

This resolution builds on the solid policy framework laid by Resolution 2151, the first thematic Security Council resolution on SSR adopted in 2014, piloted by Nigeria.

The adoption of Resolution 2553 and the focus on SSR processes is a recognition by the Security Council that emphasis must be placed on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and sustaining peace primarily to avert relapses into conflict. For this to occur, States emerging from conflict must develop their own inclusive context-specific security sector reform and governance approaches that address the needs of the entire population with the active involvement of women and youth as well as civil society actors. Bilateral, regional and international partners should partner with States providing support that is aligned to their national SSR priorities.

The resolution was adopted following a Security Council debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Security Sector Governance and Reform, which the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor presided over.

Addressing the Council at the debate, Minister Pandor stated that SSR is “an area that requires periodic reflection by the Security Council in light of the evolving security threats, including those that are asymmetric in nature, and the measures that post-conflict countries ought to take to make progress and safeguard their hard-won gains. At the heart of security sector reform is the expectation that a State should be able to efficiently and effectively provide security and protection to its population through developing policies, structures, and the capacities of institutions involved in the security sector. This is a necessity for conflict prevention and sustaining peace in the long-term in post-conflict societies”.

The Minister reiterated that South Africa is committed to continue to provide policy, institutional and structural advice on reforming the security sector as well as training and building capacity of personnel for the sector in countries that request such assistance.

Minister Pandor concluded that, “South Africa, as a co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Security Sector Reform with Slovakia, remains committed to achieving progress in this vital area of work, which, is essential in fulfilling the United Nations Security Council’s mandate of maintaining international peace and security, and in realising a prosperous and peaceful world for all”.

Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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