CIAO DATE: 04/04

The GFN-SSR's Report on - A Framework for Lasting Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Former Combatants in Crisis Situations

Abstract

Overall, the seminar was very informative and encouraged a wider debate about DDR and how it related to the overall development agenda in these countries. The author feared that UNDP did not achieve its ultimate objective with the seminar, which was outlining what aspects of DDR could be undertaken in the absence of a peace agreement. Most speakers and participants felt that some sort of peace agreement was needed to encourage the local ownership of a process that would only work by engaging local institutions. The need for effective information management at the earliest stages, strategic planning, the inclusion of gender issues, social counselling and attention to health needs (particularly HIV/AIDs), all served as recurring themes. The author felt that the most useful lesson drawn from the conference was the need for regional approaches and understanding how all the existing regional and sub-regional structures could be usefully engaged and kept informed.

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