Arab Parliaments: Publications

A Comparative Analysis of Security Sector Governance in West Africa: The Ghana Case. [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

This paper, published by Frederich Ebert Stiftung, analyzes the manner in which the statutory and non-statutory institutions that form the security sector is governed in Ghana. It provides a historical background and discusses the characteristics of Security Sector, as well as an overview of the legal and institutional frameworks involved. The paper highlights the low level of female involvement in this sector, and the need to re-enforce it.

This presentation, published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), explains the terms used in gender mainstreaming work such as gender analysis; gender budgeting, gender equality and gender equity. It describes the gaps existing in gender equality and comparative strategies employed by governments to address them. The presentation also includes steps on implementing gender based programming and policy recommendations on overcoming gender disparities.

Arab States: Security Sector Institutions and Crisis of the Transition Towards Democracy [ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

Assessing the Power of the Purse: An Index of Legislative Budget Institutions [ English ]. 2006 [brief description]

This paper compares parliamentary capacity for financial scrutiny, through constructing an index using data for 36 countries on budgeting procedures. The index captures six institutional prerequisites for legislative control, relating to amendment powers, reversionary budgets, executive flexibility during implementation, the timing of the budget, legislative committees and budgetary information. Various methods of index construction are reviewed, and the comparative results are analyzed.

This paper published by RAND, examines failed states and methods of rescuing them, through providing an integrated approach. It identified the difficulties and attempted to provide solutions mainly to policy makers and legislators.

Budgeting for Equity: Gender Budget Initiatives Within a Framework of Performance Oriented Budgeting. [ English ]. 2003 [brief description]

A Handbook published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) discussing the tools needed to determine the impact of government budgets on both sexes. It provides insight into performance-oriented budgeting from a gender perspective. It also includes a model on the means to attain better gender awareness in budget planning..

Budgeting for Women's Rights: Monitoring Government Budgets for Compliance with CEDAW [ English ]. 2006 [brief description]

The report published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) aims to provide ideas that may be useful in monitoring the compliance of government budgets with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), including the means by which gender budget analysis may assist in monitoring compliance with CEDAW.

This paper, published by Transparency International Slovakia, discusses corruption in transition countries. It examines the reasons behind the widespread of corruption, and methods to curb it.

This book, published by DCAF, analyses the role of civil society in the reform and oversight of the security sector governance in post-communist countries as a key aspect of the transition towards democracy. It presents the reader with the theoretical and conceptual background against which the potential role of civil society in security sector governance can be understood and assessed and sheds light on 9 country case studies

Code of Conduct for the Ethical and Professional Observation of Elections [ English ]. 1997 [brief description]

Handbook published by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) setting forth a universal code of conduct for the ethical and professional discharge of election observation activities, while also outlining the behavior and practice expected of observers.

Comparative Study between the UN Convention on Fighting Corruption and Arab Legal Instruments [ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This is a comparative study on the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which was signed in 2003, and the compatibility of legislation in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Yemen with the provisions of this Convention.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It sheds light on the changes occurring in the strategic environment and the different actors concerned. It also discusses the implications of these changes on intelligence services, highlights ways in which these issues can be addressed and sets the priorities in facing the recent and current changes and challenges.

This handbook, published by the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, is a guide to parliamentarians around the world interested in good governance and combating corruption. It discusses the relation between the parliament and good governance, the causes and consequences of corruption, controlling corruption, parliaments and coalition building tools and tasks, and building parliamentary networks.

Controlling Corruption: A Parliamentarian's Handbook. Second Edition. [ English ]. 2000 [brief description]

This handbook, produced jointly by the Parliamentary Centre of Canada and the World Bank, provides a practical referance tool to parliamentarians, members of civil society, and other interested individuals on the issue of globalized corruption and the role of parliaments and parliamentarians in controlling it.

This guide, published by ARPAC, deals with the challenges of governance in the Arab countries and the role of parliaments in promoting accountability, transparency and participation. It introduces the notion of corruption and enumerates the five main elements to fight corruption: political accountability, institutional regulations on political power, a competitive private sector, public sector governance and civil society participation. It places emphasis on the main role of parliaments which consists in calling for reforms to fight corruption and realizing these reforms by building parliamentary networks and alliances. This guide is supplemented with annexes, namely the United Nations Convention against Corruption, articles from the bill on the fight against corruption in Algiers, as well as case studies from Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Palestine and Jordan.

This publication, jointly edited by UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre and DCAF (Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces), is based on recommendations from a 2005 CIS Parliamentary Roundtable and is intended to be a substantive tool for parliamentarians, civil society institutions and donor governments interested in furthering democratization of the security sector.

Developing Iraq’s Security Sector The Coalition Provisional Authority’s Experience [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

This report, published by Rand, concerns itself with the efforts to build both forces and institutions in Iraq. It provides a historical record of the coalition’s experience and seeks, insofar as is possible at this early stage, to draw lessons from the successes and failures of that experience.

This study deals with the reform of the Palestinian security sector. It discusses the legal framework for the governance of such sector, as well as the need for restructuring the security apparatus and for accompanying the security sector reform with a reform of the judiciary. The study also examines civilian control over the sector and the role of illegal armed groups.

Final Report: Political Party Strategies to Combat Corruption Workshop [ English ]. 2002 [brief description]

This report, published by NDI and The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), includes the proceedings of the workshop titled “Political Party Strategies to Combat Corruption.” The workshop consisted of presentations on the environment in which parties function, the advantages and disadvantages of external legislation, and political party reform strategies and discussed various reform tactics.

Gender Budget Initiatives: Strategies, Concepts and Experiences [ English ]. 2001 [brief description]

This paper, published by UNIFEM, brings together the insights and analysis from the 2001 International Conference on Gender Budget Initiatives in Belgium. It presents the collective experience, analysis and evaluation of more than a dozen international experts on concepts and tools as well as country level experiences..

This paper describes experiences of the CIS countries with integrating gender equality in national policies and budgets. It includes recommendations on improving gender analysis throughout national plans, strengthening links between policy and budgets, improving statistical development, and increasing national civil service capacities.

Gender Responsive Budgeting and Women’s Reproductive Rights: A Resource Pack [ English ]. 2006 [brief description]

This resource pack, published by UNIFEM/UNFPA, provides relevant knowledge to facilitate mainstreaming gender-responsive approaches into reproductive health programmes, and the inclusion of specific aspects of gender inequality and disadvantage into national policy frameworks. It focuses primarily on health, particularly reproductive health; on HIV/AIDS; and on violence against women as it relates to health services.

This paper, published by Oxfam, uses the gender-responsive budgeting approach to explain how governments and donors can promote gender equality in education through their decisions on financing.

The training manual on gender responsive budgeting (GRB) is intended to build the capacity of UNFPA and UNIFEM staff in applying gender budget analysis tools in their programming around gender equality and women’s rights, it will also assist them in supporting gender budget initiatives wherever they exist. The manual specifically seeks to build understanding of GRB as a tool for promoting gender equity, accountability to women’s rights as well as efficiency and transparency in budget policies and processes.

This United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) manual specifically seeks to build understanding of gender responsive budgeting as a tool for promoting gender equity and transparency in budget policies and processes. This version of the Manual has a specific reference to Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS region.

Governing Systems and Executive-Legislative Relations (Presidential, Parliamentary and Hybrid Systems) [ English ]. 2000 [brief description]

A UNDP-MAGNET technical series publication. The report examines three aspects of executive-legislative relations, the separation of powers, the removal from office and the structure of legislative parties and leadership.

Handbook for Parliamentarians on Public Finance: Budgetary procedures, glossary and guidebook [ Arabic ][ French ]. 2009 [brief description]

This handbook published by the Mauritanian parliament in cooperation with UNDP, explains the process of preparing the national budget. It defines the national budget and sheds light on the legislative framework governing it. It clarifies the steps of preparing the budget, voting on it, and conducting oversight over its implementation. The publication also includes general guidelines as well as a glossary of related terminologies.

Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel [ English ]. 2008 [brief description]

The Handbook, published by DCAF, presents an overview of legislation, policies and mechanisms within the OSCE region, outlining models or ‘best practices’ of how military structures can successfully integrate human rights and fundamental freedoms.

How to Do a Gender - Sensitive Budget Analysis: Contemporary Research and Practice [ Arabic ]. 1998 [brief description]

This paper, published by USAID and the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with NDI, provides an introduction to gender-sensitive budgets. Government budgets discuss and review gender-sensitive budget analysis tools. They also discuss mainstreaming care in economy and the means to prepare a gender-sensitive budget.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It defines the role of intelligence services, their purpose and activities, and how intelligence is produced. It also sheds light on the types of intelligence services, relevant legislations and the democratic standards that should govern them.

Legal Framing of Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the Security Sector [ English ]. 2001 [brief description]

This DCAF publication sheds light on a range of issues related to the relationship between law and democratic control of armed forces. The discussions focused on several national case studies, some of the topics discussed were the legal issues of democratic control of armed forces, as well as the societal and cultural prerequisites needed for the promotion and implementation of the democratic control of armed forces. It also examines the relevance of the Western legal expertise for the rule of law in countries in transition, and the civilian and parliamentary control over the military.

This National Democratic Institute (NDI) publication discusses the role of legislatures in fighting corruption. It emphasizes the need for an effective ethics regime and compares the ethic regimes in 20 countries. It sheds light on the code of conduct practiced in some countries. It further discusses the financial disclosure requirements, and the conflict of interest restrictions, and different institutional designs and enforcement mechanisms.

Legislative-Executive Relations: Governing in Partnership, A Workshop for Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council [ English ]. 1997 [brief description]

This is a report of the workshop organized by NDI in collaboration with Associates in Rural Development and the Center for Palestine Research and Studies, titled “Legislative – Executive Relations: Governing in Partnership”.

This NDI paper reviews the trends in developed democracies and in countries making the transition to democracy, and provides examples of nations seeking to alter and improve the process by which they develop and implement their annual budgets. It examines a range of issues that affect legislature’s ability to play a role in influencing the budget such as: the legislative role in the budget process, the timetable for this process, the procedures and structures for legislative budgeting, legislative resources for budget analysis, and the legislative branch oversight capacity.

Lessons Learned And Challenges Facing International Election Monitoring [ English ]. 1999 [brief description]

Paper published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) highlighting the importance of transparency and monitoring in ensuring fair and free elections. It explains aspects to be addressed during monitoring elections and challenges faced by the international community in electoral assessments.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It discusses the importance of military ombudsmen and on how to ensure effective functioning of these institutions. It also highlights the German and Canadian experiences in this domain, and reviews other available oversight mechanisms.

This annex to the 2006 economic and financial report on the gender approach stands as a pioneer step in the Arab world. The report sheds light on the gender approach concept and methodology and on some of the elements of the public policies on gender implemented by the various ministries.

The 2007 Gender Report published by the Ministry of Finance and Privatization, seeks to assess policies and practices followed by the different ministries, related to gender-responsive budgeting.

The 2008 Gender Report published by the Ministry of Finance and Privatization aims to review and analyze the impact of the major sectoral programmes to identify some areas of intervention to better take into consideration the gender dimension in the design of public policies.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It discusses the management of diversity within armed forces and the involved actors in this process. It highlights some of the guiding principles in dealing with ethnic groups in armed forces, as well as some methods followed to ensure balanced representation of the different groups, and some special considerations regarding multiethnic armies in post-conflict settings. Finally it sheds light on the main structural approaches to multiethnicity in the armed forces.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It focused on national security policy, and the reasons why a country needs to adopt one. The backgrounder also reviews the legal framework and explains how a national security policy is structured and formulated, the challenges which need to be taken into account while formulating an effective national security policy, and means to implement it. Finally it outlines the principles for an effective and democratic national security policy.

Oversight and Guidance: The Relevance of Parliamentary Oversight for the Security Sector and its Reform [ English ]. 2003 [brief description]

This DCAF publication includes a collection of articles on foundational aspects of parliamentary oversight of the security sector. The articles examine a wide range of topics such as the relevance of parliamentary oversight for security sector reform, the principles and practices of democratic control of armed forces, and the national and international parliamentary dimension.

This guide, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Bank Institute and the United Nations Fund for Women, discusses some of the basic concepts and issues in budgeting, the budget process and the budget as a tool for accountability. It also provides a gender perspective on the budget and suggests ways to strengthen legislative participation in this domain.

This guide, published by Aman-Palestine, discusses corruption in the Palestinian Society and its effects. It provides parliamentarians with practical advices on how to fight corruption.

Parliamentary Accountability and Good Governance: A Parliamentarian's Handbook [ English ]. [brief description]

This handbook contains a collection of essays that focus on parliamentary accountability, the role of parliament as an important link in the chain of accountability between government and citizens. Each of the chapters focuses on some aspect of the challenge that parliaments must confront if they are to serve as institutions of accountability, one of the global requirements of good governance.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. The backgrounder sheds light on parliamentary committees on defence and security. It defines what distinguishes the work of these committees from other committees, and which committees are involved in defense and security. In addition it outlines the mandate and role of these committees, and what factors increase their efficiency. It also identifies how these committees organize themselves internally, and how the division of labor among them differs in various countries, listing some examples.

Parliamentary Control of Military Missions: Accounting for Pluralism [ English ]. 2006 [brief description]

This paper, prepared by DCAF, is interested in explaining why decision-making procedures, and parliamentary involvement in particular, have been so diverse in the first place. Put differently, this paper asks why democracies differ as regards the level of parliamentary control over military missions.

A legal and institutional resource and manual published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) based on the constitution of Afghanistan which is intended for trainers accustoming target beneficiaries, especially those lacking a legal background, to study and refer to the constitution with the aim of instigating debate and research.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation into Arabic and publication. It discusses the role of parliament in oversight of intelligence services and identifies the five layers of intelligence scrutiny. It also sheds light on the experience of parliamentary oversight committees in four countries, and outlines the oversight mandate of the parliament, the key challenges facing it and how these challenges can be addressed.

A toolkit published by United Nations instraw and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). It provides a thorough explanation of the significance of gender in parliamentary oversight of the security sector. Includes sections on gender equality in decision making and on women's representation in parliament and parliamentary security decision making.

This handbook was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It deals with the evolving concept of security and the oversight role that parliament plays in this sector, as well as the stages of national security policy cycle and the relevant international regulations. It also highlights the role of civil society and the media in security sector monitoring. The handbook provides an overview of the constituents of the security sector, as well as the tools and instruments that parliaments can use to oversee this sector. It focuses on three main aspects: defense budgeting, security sector personnel and procurement.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. This backgrounder discusses the role that the parliament plays in the different phases of the preparation of the defense budget, as well as overseeing its execution. The backgrounder also highlights the importance of promoting the role of the parliament in this area, how this role differs from one country to another, and the specific issues facing developing and post-conflict areas.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It sheds light on the difference of defense procurement from other types of government procurements, the actors involved in defense procurement, and the stages of defense procurement in which the parliament may intervene. The backgrounder also discusses the main challenges facing this type of procurement, ways to strengthen parliamentary role in this area, and the specific issues facing developing and post-conflict areas.

A comparative and cross-boundary study on securing party finances and the corruption that process may lead to. The study considers cases from a range of countries including Britian, United States, Russia, Germany, Italy, and South East Asia. It explains under which circumstances corruption may arise in the process of securing party finances.

Party Finance Reform in Africa, Lessons Learned from Four Countries: Ghana, Kenya, Senegal & South Africa [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

Report published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on awareness raising efforts on transparent and accountable party financing based on the second component of the African Political Party Finance Initiative. It considers the cases of Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa.

Performance Based Budgeting from a Gender Perspective- Egypt [ Arabic ]. 2004 [brief description]

The following resource book, produced by the Public Administration Research and Consultation Centre (PARC) of Cairo University in collaboration with the Egyptian National Council for women, explains performance based budgeting and ways of integrating gender into those budgets. The book also provides a number of examples and practical tools.

Political Parties in Asia: Promoting Reform And Combating Corruption In Eight Countries [ English ]. 2004 [brief description]

The report, published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Council for Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), presents research findings on strategies to combact corruption and mechanisms put in place by Asian political parties to limit opportunities for corruption. It focuses on Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Political Parties in Asia: Promoting Reform And Combating Corruption In Eight Countries [ English ]. 2004 [brief description]

This DCAF report examines if, and to what extent, changes in the political and socio-economic environment have affected Palestinian public perceptions of security sector governance. It also explores whether the change of government has altered the way Palestinians' perceive not only their security needs but also the peace process and their trust in political factions and the government.

Prime Movers, Specific Features and Challenges of Security Sector Reform in a “Guardian State”: The Case of Turkey [ English ]. 2007 [brief description]

This paper, published by DCAF, aims to address the nature of security sector reform (SSR) in Turkey, the problems and challenges therein, and the impact of reform on the system.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. It discusses private military companies in the light of the growing demand on them, and compares and contrasts them with military institutions in terms of cost effectiveness and efficiency. It also sheds light on the importance of these companies to governance issues, and how they should be regulated both by international and national legislation.

Progress of the World's Women 2008/2009: Who Answers to Women? [ English ]. 2008 [brief description]

Report published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) providing an analysis on the non-achievement of gender equality commitments endorsed in the MDGs and suggests that the phenomenon is the result of lack of accountability to women. The report stresses that women must be legitimate members of any oversight or accountability process as their involvement would result in more positive outcomes.

This paper, published by Aman-Palestine, analyzes the obstacles facing security sector reform in the Arab states such as emergency laws, and budgets. It concludes by highlighting areas of possible reform for example legislation.

Republic of Macedonia Code of Conduct Of Political Parties For Free and Fair Parliamentary Elections [ English ]. 2003 [brief description]

Code of Conduct agreed on by Macedonian political parties and published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The Code outlines the rules and standards ensuring free and fair parliamentary elections.

Role of Arab Parliaments in the Fight against Corruption: Realities and experiences from the Arab World [ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This publication contains articles and studies that were written and presented during the constitutive meeting of ARPAC held in Beirut in November 2004 under the aegis of UNDP-POGAR.

This volume, published by DCAF, examines a number of key issues related to peacebuilding from a security governance perspective. It highlights security sector reform (SSR), disarmament demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and the rule of law and transitional justice.

This Handbook discusses security sector governance in Africa, through examining the scope, processes, actors and contexts of security sector reform in Africa, drawing on both good and bad practices, providing realistic entry-points for broadening the security agenda and at the same time suggesting ways of ensuring the professionalization of security forces in defence of the states and protection of the citizens.

This paper published by Aman-Palestine, provides an overview of the Palestinian security sector institutions and their relation to the rest of the public sector. It also discusses the different reforms of the security sector included in the reform document proposed the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2002.

Security Sector Reform and Democracy in Transitional Societies [ English ]. 2002 [brief description]

The DCAF paper discusses several issues related to democratic control of armed forces, such as: the of civil-military relations and security sector reform; parliamentary oversight of the armed forces; It examines the particular challenges faced by Central and Eastern European Countries in efforts to establish democratic control of armed forces. Finally, the book closes with individuals asked to asses how successful were past efforts to facilitate democratic control and security sector reforms.

This tool, prepared by DCAF, is designed to provide a basic introduction to Security Sector Reform (SSR) and gender issues, it includes also the rationale for why integrating gender issues strengthens SSR processes, practical ways of integrating gender into SSR policy and programme cycles and an overview of specific gender and SSR issues in post conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts.

Security Sector Reform Plan, Reorganization and Restructuring of the Security Sector Institutions [ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This paper prepared by Aman – Palestine sheds light on the legal and institutional framework governing the security section in Palestine, and proposes practical reforms such as unification of some overlapping institutions, reorganizing the military hierarchy, and allocating a budget for the security sector.

Shaping a Security Governance Agenda in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

This DCAF policy paper aims at approaching peacebuilding from a security sector governance perspective. It examines the relationship between security sector reform and governance, and sheds light on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. It also debates the rule of law within transitional societies.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation into Arabic and publication. It discusses the key components of a state of emergency, and the importance of this issue. It outlines the essential principles that should be respected during the state of emergency, focusing on the human rights aspect. It also details the special powers that can be proclaimed in such a state and the mechanisms and approaches that can limit the abuse of these powers.

This National Democratic Institute (NDI) paper outlines the foundations of legislative- executive relations in parliamentary and presidential systems. The paper also highlights some of the tools and mechanisms that are used by legislatures in both established and emerging democracies to assert their legitimate rights and exercise their prerogatives in the policymaking and oversight spheres.

Strengthening the Accountability and Transparency of the Legislative Process in the West [ English ]. 2008 [brief description]

The book published by Cambridge University Press explains in what ways corruption constitutes a threat to democracy and economic development in many societies. It researches countries from both the global North and South, and addresses corruption problems related to each. Both the political and economic aspects of corruption are emphasized..

The "Double Democratic Deficit": Parliamentary Accountability and the Use of Force Under International Auspices [ English ]. 2004 [brief description]

This DCAF book analyses the challenges of parliamentary and democratic supervision of international security structures and puts forward proposals on how to improve democratic accountability of multinational responses to complex security challenges.

The Convention Against Corruption in the Middle East and North Africa Region: The Role of Civil Society in Ensuring the Success of International Conventions [ Arabic ]. [brief description]

This manual focuses on the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as on civil society's role in ensuring its success in the MENA region. The manual explains the purpose of the Convention, describes the means to encourage the process of national ratification and the mechanism of such ratification, dissociates implementation from monitoring between governments, and discusses the ways for civil society to handle the monitoring process.

This study, published by the European Parliament, sheds light on the trends in European defence spending and compares it with that of the United States. It discusses the efforts made towards a European Defence Equipment Market and offers several recommendations.

The General Budget in the Arab Countries: Comparative Study on the Preparation, Approval, Implementation and Monitoring of the Budget in the Arab Countries [ English ][ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This book, published by UNDP, defines the general budget, and sheds light on various aspects such as the budget’s history and development, principles of a good general budget, measures to promote the parliament’s role and the obstacles that limit the effectiveness of parliaments in this domain. The book also discusses methods of preparing the budget in the Arab countries, as well as approving, implementing, and performing auditing and oversight over its implementation. The book concludes by highlighting the final accounts process in different Arab countries.

The Quick Count and Election Observation: An NDI Handbook for Civic Organizations and Political Parties [ English ]. 2002 [brief description]

Handbook published by the National Democratic Institute providing an overview of how quick counts in elections are conducted throughout the world. It also provides a step-by-step explanation of methods to organize and plan election observations.

The Saudi Security Apparatus: Military and Security Services-Challenges and Developments [ English ]. 2004 [brief description]

This study, published by DCAF, highlights the challenges that Saudi Arabia faces in reforming its security sector apparatus and discusses the means to redefine some aspects of its security sector in order to meet these challenges.

The Use of Force Under International Auspices : Strengthening Parliamentary Accountability [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

The book discusses the role of parliaments in security and defence policy. It sheds the light on the improvements that could be sought by more networking among national parliaments, enhanced procedural rights and information-handling methods – at the international level – more reporting to parliamentary bodies and a greater role both for the European Parliament and national assemblies in scrutinizing the EU's security and defence policy.

This Gun is our Food: Demilitarizing the White Army Militias of South Sudan [ English ]. 2007 [brief description]

This paper, published by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, highlights the policy considerations for the demilitarization of militias based on the lessons learned from South Sudan’s recent experiences disarming White Army militias in Upper Nile and Jonglei states from January to August 2006.

Toward the Development of International Standards for Democratic Legislatures: A Discussion Document for Review by Interested Legislatures, Donors and International Organizations [ English ]. 2007 [brief description]

Prepared by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), this document is intended as a basis for discussion within the international community regarding standards for the functioning of democratic legislatures. It highlights key topics such as election and the status of the legislators, organization of the legislature, and the functions and values of the legislature.

Towards a New Relationship: The Role of the Military in a Democratic Government [ English ]. 1990 [brief description]

This report, published by NDI, focuses on the experience of Argentina during the six year democratic experiment. It provides a critical insight to the efforts made to develop the civil-military relations, and recommends what needs to be done, in the parliament, Ministry of defense, and military headquarters.

Transparency in Defence Policy, Military Budgeting and Procurement [ English ]. 2002

Urban Governance - Why Gender Matters (Gender Development Monograph Series) [ English ]. 1996 [brief description]

Paper published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) exploring gender issues as they relate to the areas of urban governance and government responsibility. The paper mainly advocates the promotion of gender awareness and competence among both men and women in the political sphere.

This Backgrounder was prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). UNDP funded its translation and publication in Arabic. This backgrounder sheds light on the vetting and security sector. It discusses the importance of vetting, who needs to be vetted, some of the main techniques of vetting. It also sheds light on the human rights and governance challenges that vetting poses, and some of the particular challenges for transition and post conflict countries.

What Role can Civil Society and Parliament Play in Strengthening the External Auditing Function? [ English ]. 2003 [brief description]

This paper, published by International Budget Project (IBP), advocates that civil society, parliament and the auditor-general cooperate, where possible, as an informal budget oversight coalition. It provides also best practices and examples of increasing cooperation between the auditor-general and legislatures and civil organizations.