- Calls for innovative approach to improve UNPOLs contributions to the Action for Peacekeeping
Deputy Director, Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Dr. Emma Birikorang briefed the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday, November 14, on UN Policing in Peacekeeping Operations, specifically, Police Contribution to realizing the A4P+ Priorities.
In her briefing, which covered a number of important areas, she made a call for an innovative approach to improve United Nations Police (UNPOLs).
The United Nations Police is an integral part of the United Nations peace operations with over 11,000 UN Police officers from over 90 countries currently deployed in 11 UN peacekeeping operations and 6 Special Political Missions.
In her briefing, Dr. Birikorang stressed that the UNPOLs contributions to the Action for Peacekeeping priorities are critical and must be given the priority it deserves.
She indicated that to benefit even more from UNPOLs, there is the need for a strategic and operational integration as well as accountability of peacekeepers in missions where fragile states are often the beneficiaries
“UNPOLs contributions to the Action for Peacekeeping priorities are critical. To improve this contribution, there is a need for innovation, adaptability, operational readiness, strategic and operational integration and accountability of peacekeepers in missions where fragile states are often the beneficiaries.
“Yet it has been established that beyond fragile host countries, police contributing countries have, through innovative strategies, maximised their participation in UN peacekeeping to benefit their own societies and strengthen the legitimacy
and effectiveness of domestic security relations,” Emma Birikorang shared.
Speaking on ensuring a positive multiplier effect of women’s full and equal participation in peace and political processes, Dr. Birikorang said since the promulgation of UNSCR 1325 and other related resolutions on women, peace and security, the UN has encouraged member states to increase the nomination of women to peacekeeping missions.
She disclosed that to reinforce this agenda, the UN often gives percentage quotas to troop and police contributing countries. She also indicated that to meet UN targets, police contributing countries have enhanced the recruitment of females into their police units, resulting in a greater pool of female police officers for international peacekeeping and domestic purposes.
She noted that while the figures are still low and more needs to be done to increase the number of women in UN Police, the positive roles played by female police in peacekeeping missions and their influence on host communities is commendable.
She added that undoubtedly, female police officers are instrumental in the aftermath of conflict-related, during disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration processes, the recruitment and training of women into the security services, and in critical cordon and search functions.
Among many other things said in her briefing, Dr. Birikorang emphasized that the United Nations Police are critical components to the implementation of the Action of Peacekeeping Plus priorities.
About the UN Action for Peacekeeping Priorities (A4P+):
The objective of Action for Peacekeeping+ (A4P+) priorities is to accelerate progress on the implementation of the Declaration of Shared Commitments on UN Peacekeeping (Action for Peacekeeping, or A4P) endorsed by Member States in 2018.
It is what DPO commits to doing over the next two years together with partner departments (DOS, DMSPC and DPPA) and field missions, to accelerate the implementation of the A4P agenda with support from Member States. A4P+ consists of seven priority areas that require dedicated senior leadership attention and focused, concrete and rapid responses to advance the entire A4P agenda. These have been determined on the basis of a collective analysis of achievements, gaps and challenges in taking A4P forward since 2018 and are informed by recent evaluations and reviews of UN peacekeeping.
A4P+ is therefore the implementation strategy of A4P for 2021-2023 and this plan provides the deliverables needed to address the challenges identified under the seven A4P+ priority areas, the indicators of progress, and implementation arrangements for operationalizing A4P+. Together they reflect DPO’s commitment to A4P and its continued effort to improve peacekeeping’s impact, with resolve and in a spirit of transparency and partnership.