Top official says UNPOL tackles global peace, security, development challenges 

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 15th Nov. Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Monday reaffirmed the members of the Security Council that from peacekeeping to peacebuilding, the vital role that UN police officers play across the conflict prevention spectrum.

He outlined 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. 

Mr. Lacroix highlighted growing climate and cyber insecurity risks and greater demand for comprehensive national capacity-building and police reform, said there was an increasing need for “unique and specific policing responses”.

He underscored “We must therefore work collectively to ensure the UN Police are properly prepared, equipped and resourced to address them”.

Mr. Lacroix outlined a strategic direction for UN policing in serving and protecting people where ‘blue helmets’ are stationed with Action for Peacekeeping, particularly in the areas prioritized within what the UN has designated as A4P+.

He noted that 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.

Mr. Lacroix said that strengthening these synergies lies at the heart of the second priority, which is greater strategic and operational integration across missions.

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.

Mr. Lacroix said UNPOL would continue to underline “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse through enhanced pre-deployment and in-mission training” as a fifth priority.

On strategic communications, 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.

UNPOL will improve cooperation with host countries during transitions.

He assured the council that the Women, Peace and Security agenda is infused in all aspects of A4P+ and “remains the foundation for improving our overall effectiveness”.

Mr. Lacroix said that 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.

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.

Top official described 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’.

IHe 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.

Mody Berethe, Police Commissioner of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo asserted that UNPOL is contributing to peacekeeping mandates, including through training, managing human resources, and building investigation-related capacity.

She discussed the benefits of capacity building to counter impunity, especially organized crime, and she said specialized police teams have garnered much community-level trust.