UNOAU attends the Annual SSR Common Connections Week in New York

From 5 to 9 June, UNOAU attended the Annual Common Connections Week on Security Sector Reform (SSR) in New York, a meeting of SSR practitioners and policymakers within the United Nations (UN) Inter-Agency SSR Task Force and across partner organizations with the objective of discussing strategic challenges and priorities in the area of SSR. The event was opened by the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Alexandre Zouev, and by UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau, Asako Okai. Participants discussed the objectives and goals of SSR as well as good practices and strategies for addressing challenges that arise during the design and implementation of SSR guidance and support programs. UNOAU contributed to discussions on how to further engage regional organizations, such as the African Union (AU), and briefed on related challenges and opportunities. Overall, this year’s meeting focused on the UN vision for SSR, as articulated by UN Member States and the Secretary-General, and outlined in the SSR Unit’s multi-year strategic plan. The main objectives throughout the week included exchanging knowledge, facilitating debate, building common understandings, and optimizing work processes. The interactions helped in reflecting on how to adapt to changing contexts and identify tangible ways to take forward the Secretary-General ’s vision on SSR.