"Towards People-Centered Security Service Delivery in the Arab States" Workshop - SEESAC shares regional experience in arms control and border management

UNDP SEESAC shared best practices from South East Europe on small arms and light weapons (SALW) control at the regional workshop "Strengthening Security Systems for All: Towards People-Centered Security Service Delivery in the Arab States", organized by UNDP’s Regional Hub in Amman, Jordan, on 28–29 September 2026.

The workshop brought together UNDP country offices, national security institutions and international partners to share experiences and explore people-centered approaches to more inclusive, accountable and effective security services. The agenda focused on the UNDP Security Programming Catalogue, developed by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States in partnership with its global rule of law, justice and security team. Covering 20 programmatic areas, the Catalogue provides a framework for designing security assistance that responds to national priorities and people’s needs.

Drawing on its work in South East and East Europe, SEESAC contributed with regional perspectives to discussions on SALW control, including the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap and border management. The session on mine action and SALW explored how institutional capacity development, community engagement, gender-responsive programming and regional cooperation can support efforts to reduce armed violence, and protect civilians. Discussions on maritime security, border security and transnational organized crime addressed integrated approaches to cross-border threats, including arms smuggling and trafficking. SEESAC contributed to this session with a dedicated presentation on the practices and progress by SEE in cross border cooperation, information sharing and support to detection and investigation capacities to tackle firearms trafficking.

The two-day programme also covered community security and social cohesion, prevention of violent extremism, responses to sexual and gender-based violence, security sector reform, correctional systems, and climate security. Across these areas, the workshop placed the focus on gender equality, human rights, accountability and public trust at the center of security service delivery.

SEESAC’s participation was supported with funding from the European Union through its Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2587 in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans and in support of disarmament and arms control activities in South-East and East Europe.