Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces
| Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces DCAF |
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|---|---|
 DCAF logo |
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| Organization type | International organization |
| Seat of the organs | Geneva ( Switzerland ) |
| Chair | Ambassador Thomas Guerber |
| Member States |
63 plus six permanent observers |
| founding |
October 2000, by the Swiss government |
| www.dcaf.ch | |
The Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) (German: Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces ) is an international organization based in Geneva . DCAF is active in the field of security sector reform and governance, combining research with advice. The organization supports states, international organizations and civil society in their efforts to create an effective, effective and legitimate security sector.
In its work, DCAF is based on the principle that there is a connection between security , development and the rule of law and that these three elements are fundamental for sustainable peace.
aims
DCAF is the world's leading organization in the fields of security sector reform and governance (English: Security Sector Reform (SSR) , Security Sector Governance (SSG) ). DCAF supports states on the ground with advice and projects. The organization develops and promotes democratic norms at the international and national level, uses best practices and formulates recommendations for politics. In this way, DCAF promotes the spread of the principle of democratic control of the security sector.
DCAF describes itself as follows:
The center supports effective and efficient security sectors that are accountable to the state and its citizens. Security, development and the rule of law are fundamental prerequisites for sustainable peace. DCAF's work in favor of legitimate and sustainable reform processes is based on the principles of neutrality, impartiality, gender sensitivity and local personal responsibility.
DCAF systematically gathers and records knowledge and develops manuals, studies, concepts and strategies for international partners (governments, parliaments, non-governmental organizations , international organizations and universities). DCAF is active in various countries with various projects.
The center has three operational departments: Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and Africa (this department also includes the “Gender and security program” ). As part of its International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) , DCAF also supports governments and international organizations with advice and training. DCAF also has a research department that conducts original research on topics related to the security sector.
organization
DCAF was founded by the Swiss government in 2000 and is supported by 63 member states. These are: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Geneva (Canton), Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Austria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, Senegal, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, USA, United Kingdom, Belarus, Cyprus (as of May 2020).
More than 120 people from more than 30 nations work at DCAF. The organization's headquarters are in Geneva . DCAF also has offices in Brussels , Beirut , Ljubljana , Ramallah and Tunis .
Thematic orientation
The organization focuses on the following areas:
Supervision sovereignty of parliaments over the security sector, management of police and border guards, defense reform, control of secret services, control of private security services, gender and security as well as human rights and the rule of law.
Geographic orientation
DCAF operates internationally. However, the organization focuses in particular on Sub-Saharan Africa , North Africa , the Middle East , the successor states of the Soviet Union and Southeast Europe .
Regional activities
1. Southeast Europe
Comprehensive security sector reform activities in the Western Balkans. Focus on promoting regional security cooperation, police reform and border security, parliamentary control and accountability of the secret services.
2. Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Defense, intelligence, law enforcement and capacity building programs for parliamentarians, ombudsmen, civil society and the security sector in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine and Moldova.
3. Middle East and North Africa
Disseminating standards on security sector reform and governance, supporting the development of supervisory capacities at executive, legislative and civil society levels; especially in Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon.
4. Africa
Establishment of norms and standards, development of parliamentary and civil society supervisory capacities in West and South Africa. In addition, close cooperation with the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) in drawing up a code of conduct for armed forces and security services, which was adopted in 2011.
5. Asia
Activities in the field of security sector reform and governance in governments and parliaments in East and Southeast Asia; including Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand and especially Indonesia.
The organization also runs security sector reform projects in Latin America.
Maison de la Paix
DCAF forms the three Geneva centers together with the Geneva Center for Security Policy and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining . These represent a fundamental part of Swiss security policy. The three Geneva centers have been based together in the Maison de la paix (House of Peace) since 2014 , which was commissioned by the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d DCAF ›About Us. www.dcaf.ch, accessed on June 13, 2013 (English).
- ^ Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). In: International Relations and Security Network. ETH Zurich, accessed on June 13, 2013 .
- ↑ DCAF Flyer 2012. (PDF, 1.5 MB) (No longer available online.) Www.dcaf.ch, archived from the original on June 2, 2013 ; accessed on June 13, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ DCAF ›Programs. (No longer available online.) Www.dcaf.ch, archived from the original on April 30, 2013 ; accessed on June 13, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
