Permanent
Mission of France
to the Conference on Disarmament
The Strategic Reflection
the Geneva
Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces
(DCAF)
Established in October 2000 on the initiative of the Swiss government, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) encourages and supports States and non-State governed institutions in their efforts to strenghten democratic and civilian control of armed and security forces, and promotes security sector reform in accordance with democratic standards.
The Centre collects information and undertakes research in order to identify problems, to gather experience from lessons learned, and to propose best practices in the field of democratic governance of the security sector. The Centre provides its expertise and support, through practical work programmes on the ground, to all interested parties, in particular governments, parliaments, military authorities, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and academic circles.
DCAF is an international foundation under Swiss law. DCAF's Foundation Council is made up of 46 governments including Switzerland, 41 others Euro-Altantic States, 3 African States, and the Canton of Geneva. The Council is headed by Ambassador Edouard Brunner, former Secretary of State of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. DCAF's International Advisory Board is composed of a group of over 60 experts in the various fields of DCAF's activity.
DCAF staff is composed of some 50 employees coming from about 30 different nationalities.
The budget of the Centre is mainly provided by the Swiss government (through its Departments of Defence and Foreign affairs). Contributions from some Member States of the Foundation council are also provided.
French contribution is mainly consituted by the secondment of
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an army general ;
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a general from the French gendarmerie.
