[Research Purpose Statement Development]

by

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Research Purpose Statement Development

Problem Statement

The rising number of organizations carrying out police reform evidences the increasing importance attached to it. The United Nations (UN) is joined in police reform efforts by bilateral donors, a large and diverse number of international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and, increasingly, the private sector. The circumstances in which reformers intervene have expanded as well. Internationally led police reform originally took place in the aftermath of conflict; now it is also part of a broader conflict prevention strategy.

Given the fast pace and wide scope of police reform activities, it is understandably difficult to assess experiences and draw out lessons from the wide range of initiatives being conducted. Based on desk research and interviews, this study examines what we know so far about police reform, and concludes by setting out what more needs to be learned in order for current police reform strategies to become more effective and sustainable.

Diverse policy and academic communities have sought to define 'police reform' but no single, widely shared understanding of the concept prevails. In some ways, police reform resembles the famous story of five blind men feeling different parts of an elephant, each man holding an entirely different perception to the others. This lack of shared concept means that policymakers and practitioners have no unequivocal answers to several key questions such as 'How is success measured?' and 'Who are the relevant actors and counterparts?

Analysing police reform efforts requires differentiation between alternative perspectives. The approaches are distinguishable by their principal concerns, the language they employ and the types of organisations that tend to hold them. They are broad characterizations, and individuals often adhere to more than one of them. However, these perspectives reflect strongly held organizational approaches that field staff and local policymakers are likely to encounter among intergovernmental organizations and bilateral donors. The alternative views give rise to problems in meaning, operations, evaluation and political priority. Though rudimentary, they should be useful tools for identifying tensions in security sector reforms.

The most straightforward standpoint is the human-rights view, the main concern of which is the protection of internationally recognized human rights, usually emphasising freedom from torture, mistreatment and threats to life. Held by international and national nongovernmental organizations, this perspective uses the language of 'reform' and 'police conduct'.6 Its hallmarks are the purging of human-rights violators from military and police ranks, the revamping of police doctrines and training to emphasise human-rights standards, and the establishment of internal and (especially) external mechanisms for accountability.

Numerous tensions confront international donors and national decision makers who seek ...