Since the end of the Cold War, the nature of armed conflicts has changed and new threats towards peace have emerged. The number of civilians affected by armed conflicts has increased, and in several cases, civilian populations have intentionally been targeted as a part of warfare. In response, the international community has increased its attention to the human dimension of security and how people experience their own security. The holistic human security approach that has developed over the last few years focuses on establishing a secure environment that enables economic, social and democratic development. To achieve this, it is often necessary to reform the security actors.  

Traditionally, the security sector is viewed as comprising four different groups; 

• Core security actors: armed forces, police service, customs and border protection etc.
• Management and oversight bodies: the executive and legislative, relevant ministries, planning and financial institutions, as well as civil society etc.
• Justice and the rule of law: Judiciary and justice ministry, criminal investigation, ombudsman etc.
• Non-statutory security forces: liberation armies, private security companies, guerrillas etc.

Security sector reform thus involves issues such as good governance, human rights, gender and the rule of law.

The Folke Bernadotte Academy aims to increase the knowledge on SSR through among other things carry out education and training, coordinate SSR issues and contributing to policy discussions as well as support to SSR initiatives.