Mr. Guterres thanked the policing officials for providing their best officers to the UN, particularly women officers, which has helped the Organization to surpass gender parity targets and ensure policing is gender responsive.
UN Police, who work in the service of peace, are deployed in what the Secretary-General called “an increasingly complex and challenging environment – sometimes in places where there is no peace to keep”.
Combatting ‘peace spoilers’
In response, the UN launched the Action for Peacekeeping initiative in 2018, aimed at making missions stronger, safer and more effective.
The UN chief stressed that specialized policing expertise is needed “more than ever” to keep the peace and maintain public order, but also to fight increased organized crime and natural resource trafficking, and advance environmentally responsive policing practices.
UNCOPS2022 was being held at a critical time, said Mr. Guterres.
Action for Peacekeeping
He also urged countries to increase their technological support so that UN Police can keep pace with needs, both now and in the future.
A group photo of participants in the third United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS).
Essential for justice
“Time and again, we have seen the power of the United Nations Police to achieve this – for example in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Timor-Leste,” he said.
“Since the first deployment of United Nations Police in 1960, they have continued to embody the promise, hope and optimism of our Organization,” he said.
Power of UN Police
The Secretary-General said one of the measures of success for UN peacekeeping is a “timely exit”, which means that host countries can undertake primary responsibility for security and protection.
“We are able to deploy new military and police capabilities more quickly, and to include more women peacekeepers, police and civilians in our operations,” said Mr. Guterres. “Action for Peacekeeping Plus, which was launched last year, aims to accelerate implementation.”
The world is currently facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions mean conflicts are more complex and prolonged.
The women & men of @UNPOL are on the frontlines of our efforts to forge a better, safer world.
