NGO Support for International Security Force Vetting and Screening

Abstract

Abstract Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) document violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) for the purpose of contributing to criminal accountability processes. This requires NGOs to meet criminal procedural standards, often dedicating extensive resources to a form of accountability that is difficult to secure. Given these challenges, this article explores an alternative end-use for NGO documentation of violations: the security force vetting carried out by multilateral organizations and donor governments as part of an international exchange of resources or personnel. In particular, we examine the United Nations system for screening peacekeepers, and national and international systems for vetting foreign recipients of security force assistance. We review the processes and rationale for these international vetting and screening systems, identifying both opportunities and challenges for NGO engagement. We conclude that NGOs seeking to restrict the power and capacity of an abusive security force may find it worthwhile to engage with these systems, which would benefit from the contribution of high-quality NGO documentation.