Objective:

To strengthen democratic and civilian control of armed forces. The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) works to achieve this aim by supporting States and non-State governed institutions and promoting security sector reform in accordance with democratic standards.

Type:

Coverage:

Focus:

Organisation summary:

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) is an International Foundation made up of member governments from 41 Euro-Atlantic states and 3 African states. DCAF recognises democratic, civilian and parliamentary control of the security sector as key to stability, peace and development. It aims to support transitional states and the international community in security sector reform towards democratic governance. DCAF aims to share the experiences of countries that have conducted security sector reforms with those who are in transition. DCAF focuses on the regions of South Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. DCAF has two main areas of activity. The first is information gathering, research, analysis and publication to identify problems, propose best practices and disseminate findings. The second is putting the lessons learnt into tailored practical programmes on the ground to provide expert support to all parties. Beneficiaries include governments, parliaments, military authorities, NGOs, international organisations and academics. DCAF has ten active working groups focusing on issues such as security sector reform, civil society, women and children, legal aspects of security sector governance, the military and society and parliamentary control of armed forces. DCAF is also conducting projects in the following areas:

• The progress of security sector reforms in South Eastern European countries.
• Developing a network of parliamentary experts in defence and security issues.
• Supporting the transition and reintegration of security sector personnel into civilian life following restructuring and downsizing of security sector structures and organisations.
• Broadening the debate on governing nuclear weapons beyond the ‘command and control’ approach, which is prevalent in the existing body of literature.
• Establishing lessons learnt from the establishment of border security systems
• Publishing a handbook on parliamentary oversight of the security sector.
• Providing assistance to parliaments for their law-making activities.

Information resources:

The following resources are available on DCAF’s website:

• Latest news and events:
  http://www.dcaf.ch/news/thisweek_index.html

• DCAF publications:
  http://www.dcaf.ch/publications/entrance.web.page1.htm

• Content and contact details of working groups:
  http://www.dcaf.ch/workingprogramme/home.html

• Content and contact details of projects:
  http://www.dcaf.ch/partners/index.htm

Organisation contact details:

Rue de Chantepoulet 11
PO BOX 1360
CH-1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland
Tel: + 41 (0)22 741 7700
Fax: + 41 (0)22 741 7705
Email: info@dcaf.ch
Web: http://www.dcaf.ch

GRC Exchange resources by this organisation:

Distinct and Different: The Transformation of the Croatian Police (2004)

Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector: Principles, Mechanisms and Practices (2003)

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