USIP pioneered a process for establishing Justice and Security Dialogues (JSD) between security forces, government officials and civil society to build trust and achieve common understanding on issues related to security sector reform, rule of law and improved governance in conflict zones.
Baseline Survey and Police - Community Engagement
USIP, in partnership with the Nepal Police and civil society has developed programming structured around a baseline survey on security and access to justice that will facilitate engagement, communication and cooperation between the Nepal police, civil society and local communities. The survey will serve as a basis to gather information that can assist in improving policing strategies as well as identifying areas in which the justice and security sectors can be enhanced throughout the country.
The survey will be administered by local partners in 21 districts of Nepal beginning in the summer of 2009. Field visits to identify local partners and to get input from key stakeholders are currently underway.
The survey results will be a tool to increase communication and engagement between the Nepal Police, civil society and local communities. USIP and the local partners will organize discussions among the groups surveyed to review the findings, thereby providing a platform for the public and police to share their concerns and expectations, and together identify security and rule of law objectives.
Nepal Police - Civil Society Forum
From February to August 2007, USIP organized a series of dialogue sessions between civil society and police in Nepal. The sessions took place in Kathmandu and across six districts of the Terai region of Nepal, and involved representatives from a total of 21 districts, including 125 police personnel, 144 civil society members and 56 government and political party representatives from ten political parties.
The sessions focused on challenges to security in states in transition and guiding principles for developing security strategies. They were forums for constructive dialogue between civil society and police. They provided space for participants to share their perspectives on security, begin communication and relations between police and civil society, and to identify recommendations to share with policymakers for consideration and possible action.
Participants included both junior and senior police officers and representatives from the development, media, women’s rights and human rights communities, as well as academia, business, Janjati, Dalit, Kamaiya (bonded laborers), Madhesi, Muslim and other indigenous groups. During debriefing sessions, political parties and the Chief District Officers participated.
The findings of these dialogues were released in a report entitled Nepal in Transition: Strengthening Security and the Rule of Law on September 27, 2007. As a result of these sessions, in many districts, Nepal Police and civil society have begun working together by sharing relevant information and resolving security and rule of law problems.
To further institutionalize a cooperative relationship between police and civil society, USIP is supporting a pilot initiative to establish a meeting place in Morang District where Nepal police, civil society and the community can freely discuss problems or ideas to strengthen the rule of law in their community.
Security Sector Reform and the Role of Civil Society
USIP hosted a series of interactive sessions in Kathmandu in August and September 2006 on Security Sector Reform (SSR), Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR), and the Role of Civil Society. During the sessions, the participants created an action plan and decided to form a Peace and Security Network and appointed a coordinator. In addition to the sessions, individual consultations took place between the sessions’ facilitators and participants.
