The world is witnessing the largest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War, with an estimated .?Organized violence led to more than?, making the preceding ten-year period the deadliest decade on record due to non-State violence, largely driven by organized crime groups. The impact of this violence is staggering, with poor and vulnerable populations most affected by persistent inter- and intra-State conflicts, widespread human rights violations, and a growing humanitarian crisis, all exacerbated by the climate emergency.
Given the inextricable links between peace, security and development, national and international police are key to preventing and addressing crime and violence, and to helping maintain public order and safety to enable the successful and sustainable realization of global development goals. The role of international policing is closely aligned with the principles of justice, peace, democracy and human rights, and is integral to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, ending armed conflicts, strengthening institutions, and enacting inclusive and equitable legislation that protects the human rights of all persons are prerequisites for sustainable development. By preventing and detecting crime, protecting life and property, and upholding the rule of law and international human rights standards, national and international policing contribute significantly to advancing the entire 2030 Agenda.
United Nations policing in brief
The (UNPOL) pursue community-oriented and intelligence-led policing strategies to safeguard civilians and human rights; address, among other crimes, sexual and gender-based violence, conflict-related sexual violence, and serious and organized crime; and conduct investigations, special operations and electoral security.
From a peak of about 17,600 authorized personnel in 2010 to about 7,800 as of July 2024 depending on mission start-ups, transitions and closures, United Nations police, comprising officers from 129 countries since 1990, exemplify multilateralism and international cooperation. Their role is central to international peace and security, as recognized by numerous resolutions and statements of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34), and by Member States in international gatherings such as the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit, the fourth edition of which concluded in June 2024.
The mission of UNPOL is to support Member States in realizing effective, representative, responsive and accountable police services that serve and protect the population. A United Nations system-wide service provider, UNPOL is increasingly called on to assist countries where there is no United Nations peace operation, particularly in areas such as electoral security, human rights-based policing, and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. Recently, United Nations police, through the Standing Police Capacity and in collaboration with other United Nations entities, have supported Member States such as the Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Somalia with technical assistance and advisory support on election security.
A core function of UNPOL is reforming, restructuring and rebuilding police and other law enforcement institutions in post-conflict and fragile States. Since 2003, nearly all Security Council mandates for peacekeeping missions have included police capacity-building and development. UNPOL officers train, mentor and advise host-State police personnel. They empower police and rule of law counterparts in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, among others, as part of national reform efforts that result in a responsive and accountable governance framework and a strong legislative and normative base that reflects international human rights and criminal justice standards.
The United Nations police also build the capacities of United Nations missions and host-State authorities to respond effectively to transnational threats, including organized crime and terrorism, which threaten mandate implementation and the safety and security of United Nations personnel and host communities. UNPOL leverages the wealth of expertise and resources found throughout the United Nations system through collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing, which facilitates strategic-level coordination among some 15 United Nations entities involved in aspects of policing and law enforcement, and the United Nations Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law,?which is co-chaired by the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions of the Department of Peace Operations and the United Nations Development Programme to provide direct field-level operational and capacity-building support.
Advancing our common security: United Nations policing for a new era
The of the United Nations Secretary-General points to the need for reflection while furthering efforts to strengthen peacekeeping to be more nimble, adaptable and effective. It responds to a global peace and security landscape that is increasingly difficult and a far more complex operating environment for peacekeeping. It thus reflects on current and emerging challenges and emphasizes the links between peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, as well as the importance of preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding and peacekeeping to address conflicts and promote sustainable peace. As clearly set out in the New Vision of the Secretary-General for the Rule of Law, “to help rebuild trust and renew the social contract between Governments and their people, the [United Nations] will ensure that its initiatives empower all people”. The rule of law is fundamental not only to international peace and security and political stability, but also to economic and social progress and the protection of human rights.
Policing is as much preventive as it is responsive, and it is critical to averting, mitigating and resolving violent conflict, and to ensuring that progress is maintained across the entire criminal justice chain. While numerous institutions are tasked with peacemaking, peacekeeping and sustaining peace, United Nations policing is uniquely positioned to advance a people-centred approach to the rule of law. Globally, police are often the most visible representatives of the State and the first actors in the justice chain. When deployed in conflict and post-conflict settings, United Nations police are among the first lines of assurance to the public.
United Nations policing contributes to stabilization and recovery efforts and the extension or restoration of State authority, often in the absence of formal police and justice actors. Community-oriented policing approaches allow United Nations police officers to engage directly with local communities, identify and address their needs, and increase trust and cooperation between the government and the population, thereby reinforcing the social contract. In short, United Nations police are a key part of peacekeeping’s tools to deliver sustainable peace and development, and a critical building block of the New Agenda for Peace and its new vision for the rule of law. Supporting United Nations policing makes all communities around the world safer.
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