For Immediate Release, January 19, 2011
Contact: Allison Sturma
               202-429-4725
               asturma@usip.org

(Washington) - Building upon decades of work on security sector governance (SSG) around the world, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is creating a full programmatic Center that helps global organizations working to protect the state and its citizens from threats to their security. The Security Sector Governance Center will focus on helping to build professional, sustainable, locally owned institutions capable of managing security forces in accordance with the rule of law. The emphasis will be on promoting whole of government solutions to the security challenges confronting fragile states and those emerging from armed conflict. 

"The SSG Center's programs will reflect the Institute’s commitment to improving governance through its analytical and practical work on conflict and peacebuilding," said David R. Smock, senior vice president of USIP’s Centers of Innovation under which this new Center will operate. 

The Director of the SSG Center Robert M. Perito outlines the goals of the center as:

• Inform the Washington and international policy community through original research, publications, conferences, and training;
• Advise the U.S. and foreign governments and international organizations on issues related to reforming security sector institutions;
• Build relationships with diverse organizations engaged in security sector reform and exchange information and perspectives; and,
• Strengthen the cadre of SSG experts through education and public outreach.

Said Perito, "In pursuing these objectives, the SSG Center will continue to work in concert with the national security agencies of the U.S. government that are equally committed to this work. The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review states that the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development will embrace the promotion of sustainable, responsible and effective security and governance as a central national security objective and core mission."

Since its inception, the Institute’s SSG program has sought to inform and to facilitate the work of the U.S. government in this field.   The work of the new Center is made possible, in part, through support from the Department of Defense.

In the coming year, the Center will undertake a number of specific projects consistent with its objectives. The Center will continue to host regular public forums that introduce various aspects of SSG to the Washington policy community. In the past, these sessions have dealt with the role of the U.N., the EU, parliaments, corruption and local ownership in security sector transformation. The Center will develop education and training programs in SSG for senior U.S. government officials and advisers and community activists abroad. It will support U.S. government advisory programs and sponsor original research on issues related to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other topics vital to U.S. national security. 

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The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) provides the analysis, training and tools that help to prevent, manage and end violent international conflicts, promote stability and professionalize the field of peacebuilding.