From 10 to 11 October 2018, the NATO Defense College hosted the Annual Discipline Conference on Building Integrity (ADC BI), organized by the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS) in Norway.
The Conference represented an excellent opportunity to facilitate discussion between experts on education and training, as well as requirements authorities, on how to best create robust defence institutions that are resilient to threats from corruption and hybrid warfare. The two-day conference was attended by representatives from CIDS, NATO HQ and commands, Ministries of Defence and the Interior, and various institutions in NATO member states and partner nations. Discussion focused on coordinated efforts in building integrity and resilience in the defence and security sector.
Day One, with a more restricted format, comprised critical discussion of training, examining questions related to updates, validation, requirements and existing solutions.
Day Two was dedicated to detailed discussion of why building integrity, institution building and anti-corruption should be considered integral parts of the security agenda.
The event was attended by 60 military and civilian participants. Mr Per Christensen, Director of the CIDS, led the Conference, while Specialist Director Annette Hurum of CIDS moderated the main session. Conference participants were welcomed by BG David Pincet, NDC Director of Academic Operations. The keynote speakers were Sir Ian Andrews from Transparency International and Dr Shkelzen Sylaj, General Secretary of the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force. There were three panels, each with three speakers representing different nations and institutions as well as different aspects and challenges of building integrity. Among the panellists was Dr Vira Ratsiborynska of the NDC. Ms Susan Pond, Head of the Building Integrity Initiative at NATO HQ, gave the closing remarks together with the Director of CIDS.
The panellists delivered high-level contributions on how corruption affects security and stability, preparing the ground for an open debate on which strategies should be adopted by defence institutions for strengthening resilience and building integrity in the security and defence sectors.
During the Q&A session, conference participants and panellists had the opportunity to enter into detailed discussion of how these critical issues impact the Alliance and its Partners across the Globe.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Francesca Buratti, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN