1. The Governance Role of
Civil Society and Media
Monitoring Ukraine’s Security Governance Challenges:
Security Sector Governance: The Role of Democratic Institutions
&International Best Practices
CONFERENCE II: 16-17 March 2016
Ms Karina Priajina. RA NIS Programmes.
Office of the Deputy Director. DCAF
+41 22 730 95 44
k.priajina@dcaf.ch

2. The Role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in
Security Sector Governance (SSG)
• Communication
• Information
• Education
• Representation
• Expertise
• Oversight
• Human Resources

3. The Role of Civil Society

4. How can civil society contribute to
Good Security Sector Governance
• Research and information
• Advocacy
• Awareness-raising
• Training
• Monitoring
• Legal assistance
• Budget analysis
• Capacity-building
• Organisational credibility
• Cooperation

5. Key partnerships and networks
• Government
• Parliament
• Ombuds Institutions
• Other CSOs
• Media
• International Organisations
International
Organisations
Media
Other CSOs
Ombudsman
Parliament
Govern
ment

6. Key qualities of CSOs
• Strategic vision and
Strategic Action
• Integrity
• Transparency and
Accountability
• Independence
• Expertise
• Capacity and Organisation
• Connections and
Coordination
• Credibility

7. Civil Society and Building Integrity
• Oversight
• Whistle-blowing
• Awareness-raising
• Trainings
• Expertise
• Monitoring

8. Issues and Challenges
• Lack of implementation of good
governance legislation
• Lack of tools and infrastructure for
oversight and participation
• Media concentration
• Over-complicating SSR issues and
topics (exclusive language)
• Lack of coordination between
CSOs
• Lack of whistle-blower protection
• Secrecy culture of the Security
Sector
• Corruption
• Lack of capacity and organisation

9. Recommendations
• Cooperation and coordination
• Clear legal provisions
• Effective implementation
• Organised and informed donor support
• Language should be simple and
understandable
• Debate should encourage public
participation
• Institutionalised channels for
communication
• Oversight and monitoring
• Awareness raising on Building Integrity
• Specialised expertise and trainings for
security sector personnel,
parliamentarians, civil society and the
public.

10. Conclusions
• Civil Society plays a crucial role in
SSG. It contributes to making the
Security Sector and the
Government transparent,
accountable, representative,
effective, efficient, legitimate
democratic.
• Civil society needs space and
tools to fulfil its SSG role.
• Without a healthy and active civil
society, there is no democracy.

11. All the publications featured
in this presentation are
available at:
www.dcaf.ch