Dimension: 1.11.1 Security
This dimension concerns the role of parliament in security policy and governance. State security providers are the security institutions established by the State and authorized to use force on its behalf. The use of force includes the threat to use force and the limitation of certain basic rights under specific circumstances defined by law. Every security sector is different, but typical State security providers include:
- armed forces, such as the army, navy, air force, coastguard, and other military and auxiliary formations
- public law enforcement agencies, such as police, gendarmerie and auxiliary policing forces
- executive protection forces, such as presidential guards or close protection units
- intelligence services, both military and civilian, foreign and domestic
- border guards and customs authorities
- reserves and local security units, civil defence forces, national guards, civil protection and emergency formations, and commercial security providers contracted by the State.
The principle that security services should be subordinate and accountable to democratically elected political leaders has long been seen as a basic condition for the effective functioning and well-being of democratic societies.
Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. plays an essential role in ensuring that the security sector operates in a manner that is rooted in respect for the rule of law and human rights. Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. is required to determine the legal framework for security policy and, in its oversight role, to ensure that the actions of the security sector are mediated through participatory and transparent processes which take into account the needs of all groups in society.
Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. should have permanent mechanisms for oversight of the security sector, which should be included in the mandate of one or more committees, such as a specialized committee addressing security, law enforcement and intelligence, or a joint committee which also covers defence issues.
MPs need sufficient knowledge and ability to undertake the necessary legislative groundwork to develop and implement security sector policy frameworks. It is therefore important to strengthen the capacity of parliamentary committees responsible for security issues and to empower MPs in their security oversight work.
See also Dimension 1.7.2: Access to information from the executive.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
The legal framework invests parliament with powers to scrutinize, amend, adopt or reject legislation related to the security sector, to ensure that it is compliant with human rights standards and international obligations, and to hold the executive to account. It also sets out the arrangements for parliamentary access to specific categories of classified information.
No 2: Parliamentary oversight
Parliament has well-established practices for security sector oversight, including oversight of policies, budgets and appointments. MPs have the opportunity to debate security-sector policy and practice in the plenary and in committees. A specialized committee has wide-ranging powers to investigate security-sector issues, gather evidence and carry out inquiries.
No 3: Addressing public concerns
The legal framework establishes an ombudsman or similar public body which addresses public concerns or complaints about security issues, and which reports to parliament.
No 4: Resources
Parliament has in-house expertise on security-sector issues, and training on such issues is available for MPs and staff.
No 5: Practice
In practice, the provisions of the legal framework on the security sector and data classification are implemented consistently. The executive cooperates with parliamentary committees and provides the information requested by them in a timely manner. Parliamentary committees conduct regular oversight of the security sector, and undertake investigation and inquiries as needed.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Provisions of the constitution and/or other aspects of the legal framework establishing parliament’s role in security-sector governance
- The terms of reference of one or more parliamentary committees indicating their responsibility for security-related issues
- Publications such as committee reports on parliamentary inquiries into security issues detailing evidence taken from ministers, government officials, members of the public, civil society and others
- Annual parliamentary reports or reviews on the functioning of all security services
- Press releases or pages on the parliamentary website providing public information on parliament’s role in security-sector policy
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), The Security Sector (2015).
- DCAF and ECOWAS Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. , Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector: ECOWAS Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. -DCAF Guide for West African Parliaments (2010).
- DCAF and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector: Principles, Mechanisms and Practices (2003).
- DCAF and NATO Parliamentary Assembly Assembly See: Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. . (NATO PA), Oversight and Guidance: Parliaments and Security Sector Governance (2015).
- Wolfgang Wagner, Parliaments and Foreign Policy (2017).
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Parliaments as partners supporting the Women, Peace and Security agenda (2019).
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
URL copied to clipboard