ECOSOC United Nations Economic and Social Counci : Time Has Come to Look at Machinery Supporting Organization’s Policing, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Friends of United Nations Police

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson's remarks to the Group of Friends of United Nations Police, in New York today:

I thank Ambassador [Heiko] Thoms and the Mission of Germany for once again bringing together the Group of Friends of United Nations Police. Also, many thanks, dear Group of Friends of UN Police, for your continued interest in and support for this important issue.

Every day around the world, UN policemen and women reinforce and re-establish security in communities traumatized by conflict. They do this by daily and nightly patrolling, by supporting local police services and a wide range of activities to promote public safety and the rule of law.

Twenty years ago there were just over 5,000 UN police around the world. Now, we have nearly three times that number.

It is timely that we have come together today to discuss one of the central recommendations of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and of the Secretary-General. That recommendation is to initiate an external review of the United Nations Police Division. The Secretary-General and the Panel recommended this review in view of the growing strains placed on UN peace operations by the increasing scale, and not least, growing complexity of conflict.

The review proposes serious reflection on prevention, partnerships, politics, and the planning and performance of UN peace operations. The review is also an opportunity to answer a vital question. Is the Police Division properly structured and equipped to support its 14,000 UN Police officers in 13 peacekeeping operations, 5 special political missions, and other post-conflict contexts?

In 2006, the Standing Police Capacity was created to 'support the start-up of police components in UN peacekeeping operations and to provide advice to existing ones'. In 2008, a strategic review of United Nations police operations led to dedicated 'selection and recruitment' and 'mission support' functions.

Since then, there has been no major review of the Police Division. And this, despite the significant increase in the size and scope required by UN policing mandates.

The time has now come to look at the machinery supporting all UN policing. This is especially in view of the growing importance of UN policing components in the field operations. We must make sure that we effectively address crucial challenges, ranging from developing host nation police capacity to protecting civilians and addressing organized crime and violent extremism. We also have to consider what types of technology, tools, methods and human capacities are needed to do so.

I thank you for presenting a strong group of nominees, from which we were able to appoint an experienced and well-balanced review team. The Secretary-General and I are looking forward to receiving the panel report. We trust that there would be thorough assessments and recommendations which can serve the United Nations for the next decade and beyond to lead stronger UN policing in the field.

I also want to thank all those who support the review through financial support or an expert workshop.

I understand that the initiative is not yet fully funded. There is an urgent need to raise these funds. I trust the remaining support will be offered in order to make this review possible.

The United Nations 'Chief of Police Summit' to be held in New York in June will be another major opportunity to build capacity for this important UN activity. The United Nations is counting on high-level participation from Member States' Governments.

I hope that both the review and the summit can deliver the changes we need, not least in the field, so that UN policemen and women around the world can do the best job possible for the people they and we are to serve.