GAMBIA: Vice President Opens National Consultative Forum On National Security Policy

NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON SECURITY POLICY REFORM UNDERWAY

TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SERVICE CHIEFS, CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES AND LAW MAKERS ARE UNDERTAKING A TWO-DAY NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON SECURITY SECTOR REFORMS SET TO FOCUS ON STABILITY, STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY SECTOR CAPACITY TO DELIVER EFFECTIVELY WITHIN DEMOCRATIC AND ACCOUNTABLE MEANS. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR COLONEL MOMODOU BADGIE STATED THAT THE MOST CRITICAL DEFICITS THAT PERPETUATED THE MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE SECURITY SECTOR WAS THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF ESSENTIAL POLICIES AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS TO GUIDE PROCEDURE.

DEPUTIZING FOR THE UNDP COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE NESSIE GOLAKNI GOULD WAS PLEASED TO SEE A DEDICATED PANEL ON GENDER HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE THE NEW DISPENSATION PLACES ON WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN THE SECURITY SECTOR.

AS THE CHAIR OF THE GAMBIAN SECURITY SECTOR REFORM STEERING COMMITTEE H.E VICE PRESIDENT OUSAINOU DARBOE REMINDED THE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT THE TASK TO FACILITATE A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR THE FORMULATION OF A SOLID NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY FRAMEWORK.

THE OPEN PLATFORM FOR DEBATE AND DISCUSSION BUILDING NEW STRATEGIES FOR SECURITY SECTOR REFORM BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY AS WELL AS SPECIAL SECURITY EXPERTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

This range of activities were clustered under the following five thematic areas for reforms;

1 Establish effective overarching policy, legislative and governance frameworks as the basis of the existence, command, control, direction and legitimacy of the security sector institutions.

2 improve the effectiveness and efficiency and professionalism of the security sector institutions with well-defined mandates and synergy with a view to improving the delivery of security justice services.

3 address the legacies of the past authoritarian rule that continue to confront the new republic and that may hinder progress of the reform processes and disrupt national development.

4 address the cross cutting issues of gender parity in the security as a cardinal goal in enhancing responsive delivery to all social groups across the country as well as the de-politicization of the security sector.