At conference, Ban highlights role of police peacekeeping to uphold rule of law

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today spotlighted the role that police peacekeepers play in upholding the rule of law and helping countries achieve lasting progress, while calling on countries to boost support for their work.

“United Nations police work in some of the toughest environments in the world. They serve communities. They bring stability. They inspire trust,” he said in a video message to a high-level conference on international police peacekeeping, held in Berlin, Germany.

“UN Police are adapting to meet emerging threats, and they train local officers so that positive change takes deep root in society,” he said.

Some 13,500 police officers from nearly 90 countries serve under the UN flag, and Mr. Ban stressed that as they grow in numbers, so do their responsibilities. In response, the UN is developing a strategic guidance framework for police peacekeeping, he said.

“I appreciate the support of Member States, but we need to do more. We especially need more female police. Women police can more easily earn the trust of local women. That means more victims come forward and we can stop more crime.”

The conference, which will end tomorrow, was jointly organized by the German Government and the UN, with more than 200 participants in attendance.