Small Examples of Moving Forward

So I know this doesn't directly relate (although relevant) to our topics, but it is a long-term interest of mine. The New York Times had an article today on Iraq's first Elite Corps of female police officers.

For those of you who have explored post-conflict reconstruction, one of the most critical components is how the country constructs its security sector (police, military, etc.) Often, it is these institutions that were at the forefront of the abuses that occurred during the conflict. For conflicts defined by sectarian divisions, deciding which side gets the guns is particularly critical, and can make or break peace agreements (example: Zimbabwe's civil war). Further, how security sector reform is implemented has long-term impact on how social and political factors are shaped post-conflict: when you can keep the peace effectively (and appropriately), there is a great chance that countries plagued with conflict will not devolve back into it, or so the standard literature goes.

Interestingly, successful cases of security sector reform, such as South Africa, have been pointed to as strong examples of the importance of integrating women into security forces. As the article above mentions, there are huge benefits, particularly in developing world cultures, such as being able to work with children and women in a different capacity. While this includes having women not only in security forces but in decision-making positions on security related issues--it is also associated with advancing social goals, that a man's world in these post-conflict countries can be penetrated by women, an often marginalized group in this area.

Anyway, just food for thought on post-conflict SSR in general, and also for how the United States continues its efforts with the provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq and Afghanistan and training police and military.