![An Indonesian police officer takes part in a search of a UN peacekeeping mission protection of civilians site in Juba, South Sudan. An Indonesian police officer takes part in a search of a UN peacekeeping mission protection of civilians site in Juba, South Sudan.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2018/11/07-11-2018-UNMISS-POC-search-photo-story.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg)
There are currently close to 11,000 UN police officers from 88 countries in UN peacekeeping missions; some 21% of individual officers sent by contributing countries are women. Here an Indonesian officer carries out a search of a camp for internally displaced people in South Sudan.
![An UNPOL officer interacts with an internally displaced person in a UN camp in Juba, South Sudan. An UNPOL officer interacts with an internally displaced person in a UN camp in Juba, South Sudan.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2018/11/07-11-2018-Abandoned+Child+in+PoC3-04072017.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg)
In South Sudan, women police officers serving with UNMISS regularly connect with women who have been displaced by the almost 5-year long civil conflict.
Such interactions can enable local people to understand their rights and get access to services.
![Farkhanda Iqbel (righ), UNAMID police woman from Pakistan, embraces a Sudanese Policewoman before participating in a march organized by UNAMID to commemorate the International Women's Day in El Fasher, North Darfur. (file) Farkhanda Iqbel (righ), UNAMID police woman from Pakistan, embraces a Sudanese Policewoman before participating in a march organized by UNAMID to commemorate the International Women's Day in El Fasher, North Darfur. (file)](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2018/11/07-11-2018-UNAMID-UNPOL-photostory.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg)
In Darfur in Sudan, Jordanian officers are involved in community outreach activities. Here, a UN police officer celebrates International Women’s Day with a Sudanese peer.
![Female members of the Rwandan Formed Police Unit provide support for a visit by fellow United Nations officers to vulnerable women and children living in the Protection of Civilians site in Juba, South Sudan. Female members of the Rwandan Formed Police Unit provide support for a visit by fellow United Nations officers to vulnerable women and children living in the Protection of Civilians site in Juba, South Sudan.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2018/11/07-11-2018-UNMISS-UNPOL-Woman-Rwanda-Police.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg)
Police officers are sent by their countries to carry out individual specialist tasks, but they also arrive in contingents known as Formed Police Units or FPUs. In South Sudan around half of the Rwandan FPU are women. Globally, in UN peacekeeping missions the number is just 7%.