From peacekeeping to peacebuilding, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix reaffirmed to the Security Council on Monday, the vital role that UN police officers play across the conflict prevention spectrum.
He outlined some of the greatest challenges to global peace, security and development, which include expanding conflicts in high population areas, expansion of transnational organized crime and violent extremism.
The UN Peacekeeping chief also highlighted growing climate and cyber insecurity risks and greater demand for comprehensive national capacity-building and police reform, saying there was an increasing need for “unique and specific policing responses”.
“We must therefore work collectively to ensure the United Nations Police (UNPOL) are properly prepared, equipped and resourced to address them”, he underscored.
Key priorities
Mr. Lacroix outlined a strategic direction for UN policing in serving and protecting people where ‘blue helmets’ are stationed, beginning with Action for Peacekeeping, particularly in the areas prioritized within what the UN has designated as A4P+.
This includes coherent political strategies that deploy varied resources and leverage support to influence the political direction towards stability and good governance in country’s with peacekeeping missions.
Strengthening these synergies lies at the heart of the second priority, which is greater strategic and operational integration across missions.
The third priority, focuses on capabilities and mindsets, aligning pre-deployment training with the mandated tasks of each Formed Police Unit within missions.
Fourth, is to ensure the highest levels of accountability for peacekeepers, which will improve safety and security.
UNPOL would continue to underline “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse through enhanced pre-deployment and in-mission training” as a fifth priority, Mr. Lacroix said.
Turning to strategic communications, the sixth priority, he said UN Police is working to amplify it presence, including through new engagement on large social media platforms such as LinkedIn, as well as community-oriented policing and awareness-raising activities.
And finally, in line with the seventh A4P+ priority, UNPOL will continue to improve cooperation with host countries during transitions.
Women and peace
Meanwhile, the Women, Peace and Security agenda is infused in all aspects of A4P+ and “remains the foundation for improving our overall effectiveness”, he assured the Council.
Gender-responsive policing efforts ensure that the security needs of women, men, girls and boys are considered, including through a robust network of gender advisers and police gender focal points, the peacekeeping chief said.
He noted that UNPOL has already achieved its gender parity targets for 2025, and that women now head five of nine police components in UN peacekeeping operations.
Following an attack in the Bandiagara region of Mali, United Nations Police (UNPOL) are patrolling the area by foot and in vehicles.
Instrument for peace
Describing A4P+ as the UN’s vehicle to strengthen peacekeeping, Mr. Lacroix said that through it, “we are better placed to address today’s challenges to peace and security and, ultimately, to improve the lives of the people we serve’.
In closing he expressed gratitude to the Council for its ongoing support, including its contributions of highly qualified police personnel to serve for peace with the United Nations.
UNPOL facts
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From it first deployment in 1960, to its current presence in DR Congo, tens of thousands of police officers from over 130 countries have worked to protect populations, strengthen the rule of law, and build the foundations for effective and accountable policing that serve host-State populations.
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With a current authorized strength of 10,000 serving on the frontlines in 16 UN peace operations globally, they occupy a unique role among the world’s police forces.
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By helping host-States maintain law and order, protect civilians, and engage with local populations through community-oriented policing, UN Police have helped pave the way for some of the largest UN peacekeeping missions through the decades, including in Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Liberia, and Timor-Leste.
South Sudan
Via videolink, Christine Fossen, Police Commissioner for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) assured that the protection of civilians remains “at the heart of what we do” and mutually reinforces its mandate to support to the implementation of the peace agreement, build capacity with the local police, and create conditions conducive to deliver humanitarian assistance.
“UNMISS has largely transitioned from a Mission anchored in static protection to one that is focused on mobility and meeting protection needs where they are greatest”, she said, adding that it is working toward political engagement to, among other things, help secure free and fair elections in December 2024.
Moreover, UNPOL is doubling down on its protection efforts, including through participating in “whole-of-Mission efforts” through dialogue, engagement and support for political solutions to end conflicts.
DR Congo
Mody Berethe, Police Commissioner of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), asserted that UNPOL is contributing to peacekeeping mandates, including through training, managing human resources, and building investigation-related capacity.
The Commissioner also spoke of the benefits of capacity building to counter impunity, especially organized crime, and she said specialized police teams have garnered much community-level trust.
