In 2004, a proposal for strengthening and unifying the United Nations security management system was presented to the 59th session of the General Assembly in Report A/59/365 of 11 October 2004. This resulted in the adoption of General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/59/276, XI, 7 - 23 December 2004) that created the Department of Safety and Security merging the security management component of the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), the Security and Safety Services (SSS) and the civilian security component of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) into a single security management framework.
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) was formally established on 1 January 2005. Since that time, the Department has been dedicated to performing the following functions:
- Support and enable the effective conduct of United Nations activities by ensuring a coherent, effective and timely response to all security-related threats and other emergencies;
- Ensure effective risk mitigation through the establishment of a coordinated security threat and risk assessment mechanism within the framework of a common, system-wide methodology;
- Develop high-quality, best-practice security policies, standards and operational procedures across the United Nations system, including the appropriate degree of standardization;
- Support implementation and monitor compliance with those security policies, standards and operational procedures;
- Ensure the most cost-effective provision and employment of security personnel by taking advantage of economies of scale and through centrally directed recruitment, selection, training, deployment and career development.
UNDSS Somalia supports the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes through security advice and guidance. Within the UNDSS Somalia Office, the training section aims at providing staff of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with adequate skills and knowledge, enabling them to conduct their missions within Somalia in the safest possible way.
The mounting hostility and increasing number of violent attacks against humanitarian staff, premises and assets emphasize the need to further promote and deliver safety and security training for personnel carrying out vital peace, development and humanitarian missions in unstable and dangerous areas of the world.
Since January 2007, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) have been contributing to making the staff of UN Agencies, Departments, Funds and Programmes as well as International Organizations, NGOs and Government Agencies better prepared to identify, face and respond to direct and indirect threats and incidents jeopardizing their lives and the ability to serve the targeted populations.
The Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environment (SSAFE) programme is the instrument through which over 14,000 UN and associated personnel (i.e. NGOs, International Organizations and Governments Agencies) in 16 countries have benefitted from a thorough safety and security training curriculum. It consists of a theoretical and practical training delivered by more than 400 certified SSAFE trainers.
The modular structure and flexibility of the SSAFE training enables it to be easily customized and adapted to different working contexts and realities.
The objective of the SSAFE Somalia training is to assure the quality and effectiveness of the standard safety and security training curriculum capable to respond to the ever-changing perils and menaces affecting UN activities in this country.
The SSAFE Somalia training is mandatory for all UN staff before deploying in Somalia.
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