A/HRC/18/23 efforts to establish the truth, for instance in relation to the command structure of armed groups, weapons used or where bodies might be found. Conversely, truth-seeking processes may establish the institutional dynamics of human rights abuses, which can assist DDR processes in screening for eligibility for DDR benefits. 4. Reparations 66. DDR programmes providing benefits to ex-combatants and reparations programmes for victims are generally developed in isolation from one another, with far greater financial commitment made to DDR. Reinsertion assistance is offered to demobilized combatants in order to assist with their immediate civilian resettlement. The result is that ex-combatants participating in DDR often receive this assistance in the form of allowances, food, clothes, shelter, counselling and skills training as part of the benefits of DDR programmes, while in many cases no programmes to redress the violations of the rights of victims are established. 67. The failure to coordinate benefits for victims with those provided to combatants is inequitable and can give rise to additional grievances which could undermine effective community reintegration. The provision of reparations may therefore contribute to successful reintegration by reducing the resentment and grievances of the communities concerned. 68. Where the preconditions for the successful establishment of a reparations programme are not present, benefits to victims should be provided instead in the context of victims’ assistance payments. DDR programmes are increasingly adopting communitybased reintegration approaches, which include assistance to vulnerable individuals in the community beyond ex-combatants. While these efforts cannot substitute for reparations, which are distinct in nature and objective, and critical in their recognition of victims’ rights, they may nonetheless make an important contribution to avoiding inequity and grievances and, thus assist with reintegration. 69. In all cases, coordination in commitments to ex-combatants and benefits to victims is necessary, in order to ensure that funds are made available for the benefit of victims and ex-combatants at the same time. In this context, donors to DDR programmes should consider making comparable commitments to victims, and mechanisms such as dualwindow financing should be explored. 5. Guarantees of non-recurrence 70. DDR programmes contribute to ending violence and establishing security in the short to medium term, and are often one of the first security initiatives in a post-conflict society. The success of DDR programmes thus provides a foundation for long-term institutional reform. Conversely, DDR programmes alone cannot build peace or guarantee long-term security and stability. To be successful in achieving these aims, the programmes must take place in the context of larger political and socio-economic transformation and institutional reform. 71. DDR programmes are also closely connected with security sector reform (SSR), which may lead to the integration of ex-combatants in national armed forces or other security sector institutions. Therefore, coordination between DDR and SSR programmes on vetting strategies and processes is particularly crucial to ensure that ex-combatants who have committed gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law, or against whom indictments, judicial investigations or credible allegations of having committed such violations are pending, are excluded from integration into security sector institutions. Failure to do so risks jeopardizing reforms and undermining trust in Government institutions. Screening of the human rights records of ex-combatants should be conducted as a condition for integration into legitimate security-related 17