New CAPAZ Policy Brief: Fighting Corruption In The Security Sector
The most recent Policy Brief published by the editorial project of the German-Colombian Peace Institute – CAPAZ is called «Fighting Corruption in the Security Sector for Sustainable Peace». It was written by the Working Group on Armed State Actors and Transitional Justice of the Willy Brandt School. This school is from the University of Erfurt, a partner of the CAPAZ consortium.
The Willy Brandt School’s Working Group on Armed State Actors and Transitional Justice is composed of students from the Willy Brandt School’s Master of Public Policy program working under the supervision of Alejandra Ortiz-Ayala, head of the Specialization in Conflict Studies and Management. This is a collaboration between the Willy Brandt School and the Colombo-German Institute for Peace – CAPAZ.
Summary
Following the 2016 peace agreement, which did not include a reform of the security sector, Colombia has experienced an increase in violence and threats, and various armed groups have proliferated in rural areas, due to the absence or ineffectiveness of state security forces. This paper discusses the importance of a reform of the security sector in a post-conflict context and the challenges of implementing such a reform and improving trust between civilians and the military. It particularly analyzes the problem of corruption in this sector, which severely compromises the legitimacy of the State, its resources and its capacity to protect the population. Several public policy options are put forward and recommendations are made in this regard: establish a meritocratic promotion system; involve civil society in the design of the reform; strengthen civilian and democratic oversight of the sector; and link more with communities and their needs.