Community Security While security incidents have direct consequences on those involved, they can also have broader implications by decreasing trust in local law enforcement and the rule of law. When security is threatened, people feel less safe to engage in public and political life, which undermines democracy and broader peacebuilding efforts. Security incidents may also trigger an increase in inter-ethnic tensions, with the potential of violence. The OSCE’s experience shows that the negative effects of security incidents can be mitigated through timely and adequate responses by local institutions. To that end, the OSCE has been promoting and supporting the capacity of local actors through a variety of initiatives. 1. Community safety forums Several years after the end of a violent conflict, non-majority communities continued to be negatively affected by security incidents that targeted persons, private property, and sites of cultural and religious significance. Some municipalities started to adopt a proactive response, primarily by officially condemning incidents and reaching out to affected communities to make them feel less exposed and more secure. To support this endeavour, the OSCE assisted in the establishment of numerous community safety forums and trained its members on community policing. The members of these communities were engaged in implementing various local initiatives to improve 39