The UN under-secretary-general for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has reaffirmed to the Security Council the vital role the UN police officers play across the conflict prevention spectrum from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.

On Monday, he outlined some of the greatest challenges to global peace, security and development.

The challenges include expanding conflicts in high-population areas, expansion of transnational organised crime and violent extremism.

The UN peacekeeping chief also highlighted growing climate and cyber insecurity risks and greater demand for comprehensive national capacity-building and police reform, saying there was an increasing need for “unique and specific policing responses.”

“We must, therefore, work collectively to ensure the United Nations Police (UNPOL) are properly prepared, equipped and resourced to address them,” stated Mr Lacroix.

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

This includes coherent political strategies that deploy varied resources and leverage support to influence the political direction towards stability and good governance in countries with peacekeeping missions.

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

Turning to strategic communications, the sixth priority, he said UN Police was working to amplify its presence through new engagement on large social media platforms such as LinkedIn, community-oriented policing and awareness-raising activities.

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

The peacekeeping chief 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. 

(NAN)