Interim Security Management

Interim Security Management

​Nicole Carle: Hello and welcome to this video on interim security management. My name is Nicole Carl and I'm a counsel at the Public International Law and Policy Group. Today I'm so pleased to be joined by Dr. Yvonne Dutton, who is a Senior Legal Advisor at the Public International Law and Policy Group and has agreed to discuss these management systems with us today. Welcome, Yvonne. 

Dr. Yvonne Dutton: Thank you. 

Definition 

Nicole Carle: To start us off, can you describe what interim security management means? 

Dr. Yvonne Dutton: Sure. Interim security management is the process through which the conflict parties coordinate on how security will be provided across the state during the implementation of the ceasefire. An effective ceasefire requires the parties to agree on the procedures to provide for the security of the domestic population in the areas affected by the ceasefire process.

Now, parties often need to agree on how normal security operations like policing ports and border control will function during the ceasefire. Now, this is particularly the case in disputed regions where it is less clear or is contested as to who is responsible for security during the ceasefire. This interim period is best considered sort of a bridge, linking the security governance during war to the new system of security in the post conflict period.

In addition to the practical provision of security on the ground, the conflict parties must also sometimes agree and implement a process of judicial and legislative reform. Laws may need to be adapted to facilitate the process of ceasefire implementation. For example, non-state groups that were previously labeled terrorists and excluded from the political process might need new legislation to then allow them to participate in the ceasefire process.

In other cases, amnesties or pardons might be required. This is an important part of restoring the primacy of the rule of law across the state. These interim legal changes are often key stipulations for non-state groups before they will agree to progress with the ceasefire process. 

Why Interim Security Management is Important

Nicole Carle: And now, why is interim security management, like you've been describing, important?

Dr. Yvonne Dutton: Well, a ceasefire agreement typically requires the withdrawal and repositioning of troops, and often the cantonment or restrictions on the movement of military forces. Now, this has the potential to create a power vacuum, which would increase the instability that might threaten the ceasefire and the safety of civilians.

Similarly, when there exists disputed territory where multiple conflict parties have previously attempted to provide security, there exists a greater probability of confusion and incidents that might undermine the ceasefire or threaten the safety of the civilians. Ideally, the parties will work together to develop and implement a system that builds confidence and cooperation between the parties.

But where this is not possible, a system of delegation with clear lines of responsibility in different areas of control should be agreed upon. Parties involved in conflict often need time to build trust and experience working together. The negotiations and implementation of the interim security management plan often occurs under the direction of a joint military ceasefire commission, and is an important confidence building measure that can also lead to broader forms of cooperation within a number of different supporting security related bodies. Now, though, interim security management may require its own supervisory body operating under the direction of, you know, a joint military ceasefire mission.

On other occasions, the supervision of interim security might be retained by the government bodies. So, without this important transitional process, conflict parties would be asked to immediately switch from conflict to new peaceful security arrangements. And in a low trust environment, this might just be too big of an ask, in particular, for the weaker group.

Interim security allows the parties to transition into the new arrangements more slowly. So ultimately, an important function of the ceasefire implementation process and preparing the parties for the definitive ceasefire, in particular, the final status of forces agreement. It should be easier for parties to negotiate this agreement once an effective system of ceasefire management and interim security management is in place.

At the same time, agreement on interim security might not always be necessary, but it should always be carefully considered as part of the process.

Nicole Carle: Thank you, Yvonne. This was a short conversation, but that's not reflective of how important interim security management truly is. Thank you for joining and for those watching, the next video we will discuss ceasefire verification and monitoring. I appreciate your attention.