ISS Seminar, Dakar: Role of the Private Security Sector in Humanitarian Assistance Operations: Research Findings from Cote d'Ivore
Date: 2011-11-30
Venue: ISS Conference Room
,
, Stèle Mermoz, 1
RSVP: Aida Niang
[email protected]
Tel: +221 33 824 09 18/21
Fax: +221 33 824 22 46
Through the Security Sector Governance Programme, the Institute for Security Studies has since November 2008 been running a three-year project on The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts, Peacekeeping, and Humanitarian Assistance Operations. Funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the project sought to critically investigate the role of the private security sector in African conflicts, peacekeeping missions and humanitarian assistance operations in order to inform the development and application of appropriate norms and standards.
The main purpose of this seminar, therefore, is to create a platform where the research findings from three countries: Cote D’Ivoire, Somalia & Southern Sudan, would be presented to participants based in West-Africa. This will build a knowledge foundation for the improved understanding of the private security sector in humanitarian assistance operations in Africa. In addition, the seminar will seek to engender a robust debate aimed at contributing towards an appropriate regulatory regime for PMSCs’ engagement in Africa, especially in humanitarian assistance. It is hoped that the following shall be accomplished: -
- Enhanced broad and informed understanding of the role of the private security sector in humanitarian assistance operations;
- Identification of distinct challenges and gaps especially with regards to the regulatory regimes of PMSCs involved in humanitarian assistance operations at national, regional and international levels;
- Engendering an enriched discourse on how to best address the use of PMSCs by humanitarian assistance organizations.
WELCOME Dr. Deogratias Barakamfitiye, Office Director, ISS Dakar
CHAIRPERSON: Mr.Sabelo Gumedze, Senior Researcher, ISS Pretoria
RESEARCH FINDINGS: Dr. Sarah Washburne – Case Study: Southern Sudan
Ms Laura Esposito – Case Study: Cote D’Ivoire
Ms Kerry O’Donoghue – Case Study: Somalia
GENERAL DISCUSSION
ISS Rules:
Participants are free to use the information presented, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participants, may be revealed without his/her express permission.
