The contribution of human rights civil society actors to security sector reform: A case study of Bukavu from 2006-2016

Abstract

Civil Society Actors’ (CSAs) have faced many challenges in addressing Human Rights (HRTs) issues in Security Sector Reform. The legal, political and economic environment where they worked in from 2006 to 2016 has weakened their contribution toward the realization of HRTs. Ten years after being involved in Security Sector reform (SSR), this study sought not only to identify and describe CSAs character in SSR and to assess their performance in addressing HRTs issues but also to discuss strategies developed by its Actors to overcome challenges they face in the process. The research which is a case study used different mixed data collection methods namely the survey, the focus group and the key informant. Based on the United Nation Development Program Method of assessing Civil Society, the study uncovered the existence of two different categories of CSAs involved in SSR namely those who are informally involved and those who are formally involved. In addition, the study revealed that despite faced challenges, CSAs have performed well in their fight for HRTs protection in SSR. In the end the research concluded that strengthening the national legal framework for CSAs and reinforcing informal and formal CSAs partnership in SSR constitute away through to a satisfactory impact on HRTs situation in SSR. In order to expect more positive impacts toward the realization of HRTs, the involvement of different stakeholders namely, the State, donors, CSAs and citizens is needed.