Understanding SSG/R in the OSCE context

The OSCE assists participating States in strengthening the governance of their security sectors in line with the Organization’s commitments. The provision of such assistance is underpinned by several key principles, as outlined in the statements on the OSCE’s role in SSG/R made at the 2019 and 2021 Ministerial Councils and in the 2019 OSCE Secretary General’s report on the OSCE’s approach to SSG/R.

OSCE’s SSG/R assistance:
Is nationally owned:	Support provided by the OSCE should be based on a request for assistance from a participating State and be aligned with its national priorities for reform. The concept of SSG/R acknowledges national ownership as a necessary element for success. Thus, SSG/R processes are fundamentally demand-driven and nationally-led.
Fosters good and democratic SSG:	The OSCE’s support should foster democratic civilian control, the rule of law and full respect for human rights.
Promotes gender equality	An essential element of SSG/R is the full, equal and active involvement of women in SSG/R, as well as the promotion of women’s meaningful participation in the security sector on strategic and operational levels.
Is comprehensive and inclusive:	SSG/R support should take a cross-dimensional approach, based on the OSCE’s comprehensive and inclusive concept of security, in order to take account of the holistic nature of national SSG/R processes and to promote the meaningful participation of all segments of society, including civil society.
Is responsive to the security needs of the entire population:	SSG/R support should take into consideration the needs of all segments of society, including youth, and follow approaches that are gender-responsive and respect human rights. All SSG/R support should be grounded in a thorough understanding of the given context and based on a comprehensive needs assessment.
Is co-ordinated and co-operative:	OSCE activities should be co-ordinated with other relevant actors at the local, national, regional and international levels. Such co-operation should build on the OSCE’s added value and comparative advantages.