MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

THEME 7
THEME 7 JUSTICE AND SECURITY SECTOR
GOVERNANCE
In the ideal society functioning under the rule of law, the armed
forces and police carry guns so that the rest of the population doesn’t
have to. The opposite case is one in which no enforcement of the rule
of law leads to vigilantism and high levels of firearm violence and
death. 1
The relationship between dysfunctional justice and security
sectors and the demand for guns in the population is not yet
clearly understood. Intuitively, corrupt police—whether themselves
misusing their small arms or failing to prevent misuse
by civilians—will leave people with a sense of injustice and insecurity
that will in turn drive them to take the law (and the gun) into their own
hands. While more research is needed to better understand this relationship,
in recent years it has been acknowledged that justice and security
sector reform (JSSR) is closely linked to violence prevention and peace
building. 2 The international community has recognised that bringing the
security sector under civilian control and establishing equitable justice
are essential to rebuilding societies recovering from war. 3 Conversely, a
failure to engage in reform of the justice and security sector can aggravate
social and political tensions and lead to increased risk of armed violence
and the demand for guns.
WHAT ARE THE JUSTICE AND SECURITY SECTORS?
The institutions of the justice and security sector are principally composed
of the judiciary/courts, corrections, police, military, ancillary security services,
and the civilian authorities and organisations—elected, appointed,
and civil society—that are responsible for the management and oversight
of the sector’s institutions. Taken together, these bodies are responsible
for the overall provision of an accountable, equitable, effective, and rights-
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