What are the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration standards (IDDRS)? This paper acts as a guideline to IDDRS. In a peacekeeping context there has been a trend towards complex operations that seek to deal with a wide variety of issues rather than traditional peacekeeping. The IDDRS provide the UN system with a set of policies, guidelines and procedures for the planning, implementation and monitoring of DDR programmes in a peacekeeping context.
While the UN has acquired significant experience in the planning and management of DDR programmes, it has yet to establish a collective approach to DDR, or clear and usable policies and guidelines to facilitate coordination and cooperation among UN agencies, departments and programmes. This has resulted in poor coordination and planning and gaps in the implementation of DDR programmes. The IDDRS have been drafted on the basis of lessons and best practices drawn from the experience of all the departments, agencies, funds and programmes involved.
The changed nature of peacekeeping and post-conflict recovery strategies requires close coordination among UN departments, agencies, funds and programmes. While the IDDRS were designed with peacekeeping contexts in mind, much of the guidance contained within these standards will also be applicable for non-peacekeeping contexts.
The three main aims of the IDDRS are:
- To give DDR practitioners the opportunity to make informed decisions based on a clear, flexible and in-depth body of guidance across the range of DDR activities.
- To serve as a common foundation for the commencement of integrated operational planning in Headquarters and at the country level.
- To function as a resource for the training of DDR specialists.
The standards consist of 26 modules divided into five levels. Each IDDRS module is intended to serve both as part of the overall IDDRS framework and as a freestanding document.
- Level one – introduction and a glossary to the full IDDRS;
- Level two – the strategic concepts of an integrated approach to DDR in a peacekeeping context;
- Level three – the structures and processes for planning and implementation of DDR at Headquarters and in the field;
- Level four – provides considerations, options and tools for carrying out DDR operations;
- Level five – covers the UN approach to essential cross-cutting issues, such as gender, youth and children associated with the armed forces and groups, cross-border movements, food assistance, HIV/AIDS and health.
