Statement by Sweden at the UN Security Council Briefing on Peacekeeping Operations: Police Commissioners

Mr President,

I would like to begin by thanking Under Secretary-General Lacroix and the Police Commissioners for their valuable briefings to the Council today. I would also like to welcome the new UN Police Adviser, Mr Luis Carrilho and also take the opportunity to thank his predecessor Mr Stefan Feller for his service. Let me also say how encouraging it is to see so many blue berets in the council today. You are fundamental as a security-provider and a capacity-builder. and essential to the establishment of the rule of law and contributes to long-term sustainable peace.

The landmark resolution 2185, the first devoted solely to UN policing, was adopted by this Council in 2014. With resolution 2185 as the starting point and baseline, we have today adopted a new resolution on UN policing that builds on its legacy. To further enhance UN policing, we can draw on the recommendations in the Secretary-General's report on policing as well as the external review of the Police Division from May 2016. From this solid foundation, we can continue to enhance the role of policing in preventing conflict, promoting the rule of law and the protection of civilians.

Since 1964, Sweden has continuously contributed policing capacity to UN peace operations. Today we are present with police officers in eight UN peace operations, and we are currently assessing further contributions. While, the challenges in peace operations have evolved greatly over the last fifty-three years, the value of police components remains clear. Today, police components provide operational support to national police institutions as well as to institutional reform. They also support capacity-building and an integrated approach to Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform efforts.

Mr President,

This wide range of functions and activities highlights the unique and central role that UN policing plays across the peace continuum, linking and mutually reinforcing the development, peace and security, and human rights pillars.

Building effective, responsive and representative police services, as a part of functioning Rule of Law institutions, is one important cornerstone of building sustainable peace, and stable and resilient societies. For this reason, we must be mindful to include the broader rule of law and 'justice chain' in our approach and also bring corrections officers, prosecutors and judges to serve alongside police officers in peace operations.

For example, in Liberia, a country where Swedish police and corrections officers have served for over a decade, there is an ongoing Joint UNDP-UNMIL Rule of Law programme in place. Here, police and other Rule of Law actors are working together. They are supported by the UN's Global Focal Point on Police, Justice and Corrections, to ensure a smooth transition from the outgoing mission to the UN Country Team. This will enable a continuation of efforts to enhance community access to justice and to strengthen the capacity of security institutions.

In the Central African Republic, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict and MINUSCA's police component, have worked together with CAR authorities, to establish a rapid response unit for sexual and gender based violence within the Central African Republic's national police service. By working with national authorities and other UN entities, the police component has strengthened capacity to address sexual and gender based violence within the country.

Mr President,

As we have said on numerous occasions before in this Council, the mandates of our peacekeeping operations need to be realistic, context-tailored and flexible. This requires high-quality, context-sensitive and inclusive analysis from the Secretariat.

Integrating policing advice as part of this analysis needs to be standard practice in the process for the development of mandates or in their renewal.

As our briefers have underlined today, we need to continue to increase the number of female police officers serving with the UN. Doing so would ensure that missions better reflect the communities in which they work and enhance their effectiveness in the delivery of mandates. Missions also need to strengthen their ability to integrate and support the role of women in building peaceful societies.

Sweden is strongly supportive of the Secretary-General's efforts to reform the United Nations' Peace and Security Architecture so that the United Nations system is better able to deliver on its overarching mission to prevent conflict and to sustain peace. In light of the unique position of police at the intersection between security and development, police functions will be essential to achieving this objective.

Turning to our briefers today, I would like to pose a few short questions.

Firstly, in your view, how can policing advice be better integrated in the formulation of mandates so as to better support your activities in the field?

Secondly, in light of MINUJUSTH's strong police and rule of law focus, I would be interested to hear from Commissioner Monchotte about his key reflections so far concerning the transitional work of the mission?

Mr President,

12,000 UN police officers from almost 90 countries are now serving with UN missions across the globe. Working with national institutions, they serve and protect communities; ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law. Their work is central to delivering on the mandates agreed by this Council and in supporting national efforts to create prosperous, stable and peaceful societies. We owe them our full support.

Thank you.