S/PV.10102 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Mr. Faisal Shahkar, United Nations Police Adviser; Ms. Mamouna Ouédraogo, Police Commissioner, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Mr. Meinolf Schlotmann, Police Commissioner, United Nations Mission in South Sudan. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Lacroix. Mr. Lacroix: I thank you for convening this important briefing, Mr. President, and I am pleased to be joined today by United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Police Commissioner Schlotmann, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Police Commissioner Ouédraogo and, of course, our United Nations Police Adviser, Commissioner Faisal Shahkar. I deeply appreciate the Council’s continued recognition of United Nations peacekeeping as one of the most effective instruments for the maintenance of international peace and security. United Nations police (UNPOL) remains a key component of United Nations peacekeeping and plays an indispensable role in fulfilling our mandates. All of us — Member States, host countries and uniformed and civilian personnel — share responsibility for the success of peacekeeping. This is particularly important at a time when multilateralism faces unprecedented pressures and, even more so, when peace operations are being asked to deliver more with fewer resources. Today’s briefing takes place at an inflection point for United Nations peacekeeping. The Pact for the Future mandated the Secretary-General to launch a comprehensive review of all forms of United Nations peace operations. The review, which is entering its final stage, offers a critical opportunity to rethink how we deploy, resource and support our missions in an increasingly complex security environment. I hope this review delivers a forward-looking vision for how peacekeeping can remain fit for purpose, politically grounded and responsive to the needs of the people we serve. Today’s briefing is also taking place against the backdrop of the UN80 Initiative and mission contingency planning due to the severe liquidity crisis. As Council members know, the Secretariat has undertaken significant cost-saving measures, including reductions in civilian staff and the repatriation of military and police personnel. Having visited some of our biggest missions in the past couple of months, I have seen first-hand how these cuts are affecting our ability to deliver on mandates, including the protection of civilians. I would also like to highlight our missions’ efforts to mitigate as much as possible the operational impact of the savings measures through bold innovation and reorganization. Efficiency is necessary. We are committed to finding ways to save. However, this efficiency drive cannot substitute for predictable and sustainable financing. As the Secretary-General has emphasized repeatedly, peacekeeping’s ability to deliver will be severely compromised without the timely and full payment of assessed contributions. I recently briefed the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on the renewed Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) implementation strategy. A4P has helped to prepare United Nations peacekeeping to meet contemporary challenges and will remain our shared framework for strengthening the effectiveness, safety and impact of peace operations across seven priority areas. First, political solutions remain at the core of sustainable peace. United Nations police play a crucial role in supporting political processes, strengthening host State police and other law enforcement institutions and helping to increase trust between communities and the host State. Furthermore, United Nations police advisers and mentors are critical to the planning of public order management during electoral cycles. In missions such as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, MONUSCO, UNMISS and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, its work aligns with mission-wide political strategies to advance stability and reconciliation. Second, we are strengthening strategic and operational integration. The Heads of Military and Police Components Conference, first held in 2024 and which we hope to conduct biannually, and enhanced joint planning processes have improved coordination among uniformed and civilian components, enabling more coherent responses to evolving threats. Third, we continue to invest in capabilities and mindsets. We are strengthening professional standards, specialized skills and operational readiness. The revision of the police command course and development of the police operational command course, as part of the United Nations Police Training Architecture Programme, are key activities in this area. Fourth, accountability to peacekeepers and to the communities we serve remains paramount. Community-oriented and intelligence-led policing approaches enhance mission effectiveness. However, they also enhance the safety and security of our personnel. Fifth, we maintain a policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. The Department supports peacekeepers, including police peacekeepers, through strengthened training, monitoring and victim-centred responses. We thank our police- contributing countries for their close cooperation in this area. Sixth, in today’s information environment, strategic communications and information integrity are mission critical. The United Nations police are contributing to the work of the task force I set up to implement the recommendations that resulted from the review of uniformed personnel. I am grateful to Member States that have joined the advisory board to work with us on guidance for uniformed personnel. United Nations police officers are key to countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech through their daily community engagement and proactive outreach. Seventh, we are deepening cooperation with host State police and other law enforcement agencies. In the Central African Republic and South Sudan, the United Nations police continue to support police reform and institutional development. Our ultimate goal is for the host State police to assume their responsibilities in accordance with international human rights and criminal justice standards. Across all these priorities, the women and peace and security agenda remains central. We have made progress in increasing women’s participation and leadership in UNPOL, including through women’s command development courses that create a talent pipeline from which we can draw when filling senior posts. Progress, however, remains fragile, particularly in the context of budget cuts. We must continue to invest in recruitment, retention and leadership development for women police peacekeepers. The 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin demonstrated renewed political commitment to peacekeeping. It benefited from record participation and resulted in meaningful capability pledges, including for specialized police capacities, rapid deployment and training. The pledges are essential to ensuring that United Nations police are prepared to respond to emerging threats in areas such as transnational organized crime, cyber-enabled crime, climate-related insecurity and the misuse of new technologies. The ongoing review of peace operations I referred to earlier offers an opportunity to reaffirm the unique and distinct contribution of the United Nations police to peacekeeping. Peace operations depend on UNPOL for community engagement, institutional reform and the prevention of criminal and intercommunal violence. UNPOL is also uniquely positioned to address challenges that particularly require a policing response, including operating in environments with a high density of population, such as, for example, internally displaced person camps or large cities, supporting the capacity‑building of rule of law institutions and helping to counter transnational criminal activities. As many Member States have emphasized in their submissions to the review, policing must remain a core element of future peace operations. UNPOL’s professionalization over the past decade, including advances in doctrine, training and specialized recruitment, constitutes critical institutional capital. With Member State support, we must preserve and strengthen it. Despite severe constraints, our police personnel continue to serve with dedication, professionalism and courage. They operate in environments of persistent insecurity, political volatility and growing operational risks. This briefing is, therefore, an opportunity not only to take stock of progress, but to renew our collective commitment. We must ensure that mandates are matched with adequate resources. We must sustain political unity around peacekeeping. We must protect the institutional and operational gains achieved under A4P+. And we must equip United Nations police to meet the demands of tomorrow. We encourage Council members, troop- and police-contributing countries and regional partners to engage actively in the ongoing review of peace operations. We count on their support in finding new innovative deployment models and sustainable financing mechanisms for United Nations police. And we hope that they, through their voices and actions, will continue to reinforce the central role of policing within the United Nations system.

I thank Mr. Lacroix for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Shahkar. Mr. Shahkar: I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this briefing. I am very pleased to be here with Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Police Commissioner Schlotmann from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Police Commissioner Ouédraogo from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). It is an honour for me to address the Council today on behalf of all United Nations police, women and men, serving across 12 peacekeeping operations and special political missions, representing more than 77 police-contributing countries. This year’s United Nations Police Week takes place at a moment of reflection and transition. As we mark the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, multilateralism is under profound strain, and the global peace and security landscape is shaped by fragile geopolitical conditions and persistent conflict. Nevertheless, the United Nations police remain a cornerstone of the Organization’s efforts to support peace, protect civilians and shape accountable and representative national security institutions, wherever we serve. Allow me to highlight a few of the challenges of the United Nations police before we turn to our achievements. Misinformation and disinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted our missions, complicating our engagement with communities and eroding trust with host State institutions. In response, the United Nations police has expanded its community outreach mechanisms, enhanced cooperation with mission strategic communications teams and strengthened local dialogue platforms to reinforce confidence in our presence. The environments in which we operate are increasingly complex and volatile. The United Nations police are confronted with sophisticated transnational organized crime networks that exploit porous borders, weak institutions and new technologies to undermine governance and fuel cycles of violence. We are working through the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing, which is co-chaired by the Department of Peace Operations and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to strengthen system-wide coordination, produce joint guidance and reinforce our collective capacity to support host State authorities in countering cross border threats. Enhancing the professionalism and performance of our police personnel also remains central to our efforts, in keeping with the Action for Peacekeeping Plus priorities. The United Nations Police Commanders course, anchored in the Strategic Guidance Framework for International Policing, continues to equip senior leaders with the skills, accountability and operational readiness to achieve more effective and principled policing in the field. As we look to the future under the UN80 Initiative, continued investment in leadership development remains indispensable. Finally, I must also echo the concerns shared by Under-Secretary-General Lacroix regarding the UN80 Initiative and mission contingency planning, which has reduced our resources. The persistent resource constraints have also reduced our field presence and affected our ability to deliver on our mandated tasks. These restrictions have required us to adapt swiftly by streamlining operational planning, prioritizing essential activities and identifying innovative ways to maintain support for host State institutions and protect civilians with agility and professionalism. Turning now to a few of our accomplishments, across the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), UNMISS, MONUSCO and other missions, the United Nations police continue to support national authorities in building more effective, responsive and representative national police services through institutional reforms, targeted capacity-building, operational support and crime prevention initiatives that will endure beyond mission timelines. Last year, with the generous support of Norway, we were able to bring together senior police leaders from our missions in Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Abyei and South Sudan, as well as regional and international partners, as part of our in-mission global review of guidance, developed under the Strategic Guidance Framework for International Policing, in order to strengthen the entire operation not only of the United Nations police but also to provide strategic guidance for global policing as a whole. In the Central African Republic, the United Nations police supported the authorities in the drafting of key legal policy frameworks, including the internal security forces’ national capacity-building plan and the framework for the security law, an effort that directly contributed to strengthening the rule of law and consolidating national policing institutions. They also played a direct role in electoral preparations by assisting in the secure delivery of electoral materials across all prefectures and supporting national authorities as they prepared for the presidential and parliamentary elections held in late 2025. And in Abyei, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei police continued to play a central role in maintaining law and order by mentoring and training community protection committees and joint protection committees, conducting community confidence patrols and supporting local mediation efforts in the absence of the Abyei Police Service. I would like to also mention here the delayed deployment of the three formed police units that were authorized by the Council. The women and peace and security agenda also remained at the forefront of our efforts. In Abyei, the United Nations police promoted women’s meaningful participation in community-based protection structures and integrated gender- responsive practices into local security processes. In addition, the most recent police Women Commander Development Course, which was held in Brindisi, Italy, in May 2025, brought together senior women police officers from 18 Member States to better prepare them for future leadership roles in United Nations policing. This course further strengthened the United Nations police’s women command cadre and reinforced our collective efforts to expand women’s representation at the highest level of police leadership. As the peace operations review mandated under the Pact for the Future moves towards its conclusion, it offers an important opportunity to ensure that policing expertise is fully reflected in future mission designs, in particular in such areas as community engagement, organized crime and the strengthening of host State policing institutions. The United Nations police stands ready to contribute to a forward- looking vision that keeps policing as an essential element of the peace and security toolkit. I would also like to acknowledge the positive momentum generated by the 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference, held in Berlin. The Ministerial Conference reaffirmed strong global support for peacekeeping, with 74 Member States making concrete pledges, including specialized police capabilities, rapid deployment enablers and advanced training initiatives. We encourage Member States to maintain this dynamic so that the gains achieved and the progress made towards a more capable and representative United Nations police are properly preserved. The continued support of Member States remains critical in ensuring that the United Nations police can fulfil its mandated tasks and remain a vital tool for peace and security. As we navigate the transition initiated by the Pact for the Future and the peace operations review, I urge Member States to reaffirm policing as a core pillar of any future peace architecture. Let me conclude by thanking the Council for the opportunity to speak and by emphasizing that the continued political and financial engagement of Member States is critical to ensuring that the United Nations police remains fit for purpose and responsive to the evolving challenges of today’s complex security environment.

I thank Mr. Shahkar for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Ouédraogo. Ms. Ouédraogo: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Council today. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) police component operates in one of the most complex and unpredictable environments faced by United Nations peacekeeping. Rapidly evolving insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the presence of armed groups, large-scale displacement and institutional fragility place exceptional demands on policing functions. In this context, adaptability and operational flexibility are essential. Since the establishment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations police (UNPOL) has evolved from a monitoring function into a multidimensional operational and reform-oriented pillar, contributing to the protection of civilians and providing national police and security institutions with support, accountability, conflict prevention and long-term institutional transformation. Over recent years, and particularly following the deterioration of the security situation in the east, the work of the United Nations police has shifted decisively towards prevention and protection. Our officers support intelligence-informed deployment, structured joint patrols with the Congolese National Police, mentoring of police leadership and reinforcement of investigative and internal oversight mechanisms. While the authorized ceiling under resolution 2808 (2025) of December 2025 remains unchanged at 443 individual police officers and 1,270 formed police unit personnel, the implementation of the liquidity contingency plan has altered UNPOL’s operational capacity. As of January, 157 individual police officers and 690 formed police unit personnel are deployed, amounting to roughly half of the authorized strength. Capacity has therefore been concentrated in Kinshasa, Beni and Bunia, while a limited but essential presence has been maintained in Goma. The protection of civilians remains central to our mandate. Through daily engagement with communities, traditional leaders, civil society and police counterparts, UNPOL contributes to enhancing early warning, preventing violence and strengthening community trust in security institutions. Special emphasis is placed on displacement-affected areas, in which insecurity exposes civilians, especially women and children, to heightened risks. During the past semester, the United Nations police conducted more than 50 internally displaced persons (IDP) camp visits, supported more than 80 joint protection patrols with the Congolese National Police and organized more than 72 joint community engagement activities inside IDP camps to strengthen dialogue, trust and cooperation. UNPOL is also implementing a dedicated sexual and gender-based violence response strategy through specialized teams, strengthening investigation capacity, survivor-centred approaches and cooperation with judicial and protection actors. These efforts are complemented by the implementation of the Integrated Operational Strategy for the Fight against Insecurity through targeted joint operations, hotspot policing and local security coordination, contributing to improved urban security trends in Beni and Bunia. Police reform remains a strategic component. Through the United Nations Joint Police Reform Support Programme, the United Nations police supports the professionalization of the Congolese National Police, strengthens the Inspectorate General and promotes human rights-compliant policing. During the past semester, the United Nations police supported the training of more than 1,292 Congolese National Police officers on several policing topics, including sexual and gender-based violence investigations, child protection, improvised explosive device awareness, forensic techniques and crime scene management. It also supported the deployment of more than 100 police inspectors nationwide. Accountability remains an essential concern. The United Nations police supported inspections of 233 detention facilities, facilitated 197 human-rights monitoring and mentoring activities and organized 75 awareness-raising sessions for Congolese National Police personnel. These efforts are guided by the Action for Peacekeeping and Action for Peacekeeping Plus commitments, in particular those pertaining to performance, the protection of civilians, partnerships and accountability. The women and peace and security agenda is embedded across UNPOL’s operational and institutional support activities. As of January, women represent 30.6 per cent of individual police officers deployed in MONUSCO, with 21.05 per cent occupying command and leadership positions. Within the formed police units, female representation stands at nearly 16 per cent. Beyond numerical representation, UNPOL promotes gender-responsive policing through specialized sexual and gender-based violence teams, targeted training and operational mentoring, ensuring that protection activities and police reform efforts address the specific security needs of women and girls in conflict- affected and displacement-prone environments. The experience of MONUSCO confirms that effective policing is not peripheral to peacekeeping; it is foundational to civilian protection, conflict prevention, accountability and sustainable stabilization. Even under severe constraints, United Nations police continues to deliver tangible protection outcomes through integration, partnership with national institutions and continuous adaptation. Concurrently, United Nations police remains fully committed to the safety and security of United Nations personnel and assets. Despite the reduced footprint resulting from the liquidity and contingency plans, formed police units continue to play a critical role in public order management, protection tasks and high-risk operations, ensuring that peacekeepers can operate safely in volatile environments. While reduced staffing and resources will remain a significant constraint, United Nations police will focus on consolidating gains in protection-driven policing, maintaining a protective presence among displacement-affected populations and sustaining critical police reform and accountability functions. Operational efforts will increasingly emphasize targeted presence in high-risk areas, strengthened joint action with the Congolese National Police and high-impact interventions aligned with the Integrated Operational Strategy for the Fight against Insecurity. At the same time, United Nations police will pursue internal realignment, updated planning tools and closer integration with mission components to remain responsive, credible and effective under resolution 2808 (2025). Finally, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Police Division at Headquarters for its continuous strategic guidance, technical support and advocacy and to the 32 police-contributing countries whose officers serve in difficult and often dangerous conditions. Their professionalism and commitment remain the backbone of our collective efforts to support peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I thank Ms. Ouédraogo for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Schlotmann. Mr. Schlotmann: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the strategic direction of United Nations police (UNPOL) in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) at a moment of ongoing political violence, constrained resources and urgent protection needs. UNMISS is mandated to advance a multi-year vision anchored in four core tasks: protecting civilians; creating conditions conducive to humanitarian assistance; supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and peace process; and monitoring and investigating human rights violations. The political and security environment remains volatile, underscoring the importance of an agile, integrated peacekeeping mission, with unrestricted freedom of movement under the Status of Forces Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan concerning the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Within this context, UNPOL’s approach is to protect today, while helping to build a police service that can protect tomorrow. In terms of our priorities for mandate implementation, first, UNPOL will sustain an active Tier 2 protection of civilians posture — visible, deterrent and rapidly deployable — through integrated patrolling with formed police units (FPUs) and individual police officers (IPOs) across population centres and emerging hotspots. UNMISS is planning to expand long-range patrols to areas no longer served by permanent field offices and rotate UNPOL teams through force company and temporary operating bases to maintain presence, build confidence and shorten response times. To institutionalize a dedicated surge capacity, we propose piloting rapid deployment FPUs with police-contributing countries, enabling short- notice deployments into high-risk locations alongside IPOs. Those capabilities would complement, not replace, essential fixed presences in various field locations. Secondly, UNPOL will prioritize route security, conflict-sensitive community engagement and incident de-escalation to sustain humanitarian corridors and secure movement for the United Nations and partners. Denials of movement and administrative impediments to patrols continue to hinder protection efforts. The host country’s compliance with the Status of Forces Agreement is indispensable to saving lives. We will intensify joint civil-military planning for air and ground mobility to reach isolated communities during the long rainy season, when roads and bridges are impassable. UNPOL will provide technical assistance to the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) on public order management consistent with human rights standards and community-oriented policing that mitigates intercommunal violence. Moreover, on election- related policing, UNPOL, in line with the Mission’s political strategy on supporting elections, would also be ready to provide similar support to the national police. This includes strengthening capacity-building on command and control, crowd management doctrine, evidence-based operations and information integrity measures to counter rumour- and hate- speech-driven violence, in line with the Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) priorities on strategic communications. Recognizing that sustainable protection requires capable national policing, UNPOL will drive a consolidated capacity-building agenda with the SSNPS through the Police Professional Development Board — our platform to align all United Nations, agency, fund and programme inputs, avoid duplication and maximize scarce resources. This model reflects the A4P+ commitments to strategic and operational integration and cooperation with host countries. And finally, women and girls in South Sudan face among the highest recorded levels of gender-based violence globally; rigorous studies indicate that more than 65 per cent have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. UNPOL will help to build the capacities related to survivor-centred policing, expand women-led community policing platforms and reinforce specialized investigation and referral pathways with national counterparts. This is aligned with the mandate’s requirement for the specific protection of women and children and strengthened responses to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. South Sudan is nearly twice the size of Germany, with limited road infrastructure and long periods of seasonal inaccessibility. Even before the current constraints, UNMISS could not be everywhere at once. We therefore prioritize population centres and high-risk areas, while extending reach through long-range patrols and rotational presences. Under the United Nations contingency planning, UNMISS has reduced its footprint, including through the closure of some field offices such as Aweil at the end of December 2025, while maintaining patrolling from nearby bases to mitigate protection gaps. UNPOL’s rotational teams at force operating bases are designed to offset some of the effects. Nevertheless, this still means doing less with less. Recurrent constraints on UNMISS movement significantly undermine mandated tasks. The Council has previously called on the authorities to cease obstructing UNMISS and to respect its ability to use all bases. The United Nations liquidity crisis has forced deep cross-mission expenditure cuts and hiring freezes, leading to a mandated 15 per cent budgetary reduction, translating into roughly a 33 per cent reduction in uniformed and civilian personnel. Peacekeeping arrears and late payments have delayed reimbursements to troop- and police-contributing countries, with cascading effects on readiness and deployment rotations. As a result of these cuts, for UNPOL in UNMISS, the operational consequences are concrete: reductions in aviation hours, fuel and movement support impede the provision of rapid reinforcement to conflict hotspots. Closures and consolidations of field offices with associated staff reductions stretch our ability to maintain consistent community engagement in hotspot areas. Hiring freezes and uncertainty around allowances for uniformed personnel hamper our ability to attract and retain special police expertise, including the women officers essential to effective protection and response to sexual and gender-based violence. Despite these constraints, our team continues to evaluate by readjusting its approach guided by A4P+ commitments to capabilities, mindsets, integration, strategic communications and accountability. To preserve life-saving effects while resources are constrained, we are implementing the following measures. We are concentrating IPO patrolling and security in geo-referenced hotspots that are prioritized on the basis of mission- wide early-warning indicators and humanitarian access needs. We are also systematizing the rotational teams at company operating bases and temporary operating bases, with the support of integrated planning with the force and substantive sections to sustain community contact, mediation and patrol coverage where offices have closed. Through the Police Professional Development Board, we are synchronizing all United Nations and partner police support activities with SSNPS priorities, focusing on public order management, investigations, including sexual and gender-based violence, and internal accountability systems. Moreover, we are expanding women-led community policing units and survivor-centred investigation capacity with the SSNPS in response to the persistently high prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence. In this regard, we call for Council members’ support in ensuring compliance with the full Status of Forces Agreement, including unhindered ground and air movement and the use of United Nations bases as operational hubs. Timely access saves lives. And lastly, we call for them to support the piloting of rapid-deployment FPUs and consider more flexible rotation models to widen the pool of specialized and women police officers able to serve, consistent with A4P+ goals. In conclusion, peacekeeping remains critical in South Sudan. While the 2018 Revitalized Agreement raised hopes of a post-conflict trajectory, today’s realities on the ground demand that we protect civilians decisively, while enabling national institutions to shoulder their responsibilities. UNPOL and UNMISS will continue to be field-centric, mobile and integrated, protecting communities, facilitating humanitarian action, supporting peace process deliverables and advancing professional, accountable policing.

I thank Mr. Schlotman for his briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and my own country, Liberia. The A3 extends sincere thanks to the briefers — Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Commissioner Schlotman, Commissioner Ouédraogo and Adviser Shahkar — for their insightful and expert briefings. Today, before discussing mandates, models or reforms, we honour all those wearing the blue beret and the blue helmet — those who continue to serve selflessly with dedication and professionalism, often in increasingly challenging environments. The A3 thanks all of them for their service to humankind. We also salute the significant contributions of African peacekeeping and police-contributing countries, which account for a substantial portion of United Nations police (UNPOL) deployments. Their continued commitment strengthens United Nations operations globally and makes the maintenance of peace and security actually possible. Since 1948, United Nations peace operations have recorded more than 4,300 fatalities, including police, military and civilian personnel. These numbers are not abstractions. They represent officers who patrolled alleys in which they did not grow up, defended communities they had never met and paid the ultimate price for a peace they will never get to see. May their ultimate sacrifice for peace realize the results for which they paid so dearly. Africa’s experience with United Nations police is both extensive and instructive, carrying a unique burden and credibility. Africa is home to the largest number of United Nations missions, and we contribute some of the largest contingents of police personnel. This dual role gives us a clear message that we wish to deliver today. United Nations policing works best when it strengthens national institutions, not when it substitutes for them. The A3 position is therefore simple: support must be requested, not presumed; assistance must entail partnership, not parallelism; and capacity must be transferred, not temporarily rented. Experience across the continent shows that sovereignty and effectiveness are not competing goals. Sovereignty and effectiveness can and must be mutually reinforcing. The United Nations Mission in Liberia did not deliver miracles. It delivered a nationally led police reform, anchored in community trust. And I say to Council members that it was a successful Mission. The result was a police service Liberians recognize as their own. This lesson is clear: peace that is imposed fades; peace that is owned will endure. The A3 priority for the future of United Nations policing is to make capacity real, not rhetorical. Training that stops in the classroom is good, but not good enough. Real capacity comes from joint patrols, joint investigations, leadership mentoring and systems reform rooted in national strategy. This is how police institutions become resilient and not reliant. The Security Council must match mandates with means. Too often, the Council authorizes what it does not adequately resource, creating gaps between the Council’s ambition and actual deployment and between the intentions of the Council and outcomes on the ground. A mandate without means is an unkept promise. It really is an unjustified risk that is too high for citizens, for police and for peacekeepers. At the same time, the Council must continue to avoid the temptation to make peacekeeping mandates about the interests of individual members of the Council, rather than the interests of those whom the resolutions are intended to assist. Mandates, therefore, must be clear, not confusing. The A3 believes we must modernize responsibly, devoid of technological dependency. Technology shapes everything from human trafficking to digitally coordinated violence. UNPOL must have these tools, but host States must own, operate and sustain them long after missions depart. We cannot replace outdated forms of dependency with digital dependency. Women in policing should be an intrinsic part of the strategy, not mere symbolism. Women police officers open doors that weapons cannot. Their presence improves intelligence, strengthens community trust and reduces fear and stigma in conflict settings. We therefore call for greater deployment, leadership and retention of women police, because this is an operational necessity and not a symbolic convenience. To achieve these objectives, the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations must be strengthened. African institutions, from the African Peace and Security Architecture to the Silencing the Guns initiative, are not slogans. They are living frameworks built on continental experience and legitimacy. UNPOL must operate with these frameworks, not around them. The A3’s vision rests on three pillars: partnership, empowerment and sovereignty. As we look ahead, our message is clear: from intervention to partnership; from substitution to empowerment; from international ownership to national sovereignty; and from parallel structures to strong, permanent and nationally led police services. When a United Nations police mission closes, its success should not be measured by the number of vehicles it leaves behind, but by the strength and legitimacy of the national police service that remains standing. Africa is not merely asking for better missions, we are looking to shape the next generation of peace operations, using our lived experiences as our guide. To conclude, we, the A3, commit to working with all partners to ensure that United Nations policing becomes what it must be: a catalyst for national capability, a defender of sovereignty and a builder of lasting peace that conflict-affected peoples, including the people of Africa, truly deserve.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, United Nations Police Adviser Shahkar and the Police Commissioners of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ms. Ouédraogo and Mr. Schlotmann. At the outset, let me reiterate that Greece considers the United Nations police to be an indispensable component of United Nations peacekeeping, contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of international peace and security through, inter alia, support for the police capacities of host States. Greece reiterates its gratitude to the men and women police officers who are committed to serving under the most challenging circumstances, while protecting civilians and maintaining law and order. We honour the memory of all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. In today’s rapidly evolving operational environments and amid a severe liquidity crisis that affects the means and capabilities of all United Nations peace operations, the need to adapt United Nations police to present circumstances is more urgent than ever. We recognize the difficult measures adopted by MONUSCO and UNMISS and we congratulate both Missions for their efforts. Concerning MONUSCO, the drastic reduction in the personnel of the police component resulted in the curtailing of core functions, including patrols, mentoring, advising and joint operations. As regards UNMISS, reduction measures have already resulted in significant operational constraints, limiting the Mission’s capability to deliver fully on core protection, political, human rights, stabilization and electoral support functions. Allow me to highlight five points. First, the adaptation of United Nations police should build upon the actions contained in fundamental texts, such as the Pact for the Future and Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+). In action 21 of the Pact we committed to adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities. The adaptation of the United Nations police should consider the needs of all Member States and police-contributing countries, as well as the priorities and responsibilities of host countries, without compromising the core functions of missions. We also support efforts to implement the priorities outlined in the Action for Peacekeeping and Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiatives. Secondly, we fully agree with the idea that the United Nations police can contribute significantly to supporting political settlements and post-conflict transitions. The primacy of politics should be a core element of all missions’ mandates, translated into strengthening the use of political strategies and expanding local peace dialogue efforts. As Under-Secretary-General Lacroix recently proposed, these efforts should draw on an integrated effort whereby military and police officers are equally engaged in working with their civilian counterparts towards a political goal. Thirdly, Greece supports the integration of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, in the training and capacity-building of the United Nations police, for the enhancement of operational efficiency and the reduction of risks to personnel. At last year’s Security Council Arria meeting on harnessing safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI for the maintenance of international peace and security, convened by Greece, we confirmed that there was broad support for the idea that AI- related technologies could be harnessed for peacekeeper training, logistics support, the detection of landmines, surveillance or monitoring tasks. Fourthly, we believe that the UN80 Initiative offers a unique opportunity to review the mandates of peace operations, with the ultimate aim of making them more operational, results-oriented and efficient. The pursuit of efficiency should be multi- level, starting from better coordination between the Secretariat components, between Headquarters and the missions and between the United Nations system and Member States, especially troop- and police-contributing countries. Lastly, United Nations policing should more effectively integrate the women and peace and security agenda into its work. We encourage the Secretariat to continue its efforts to strengthen women’s access to all roles, including by developing a database of potential women police leaders to enhance the women police leadership pipeline and by ensuring women’s safe participation and broader gender responsiveness in peace processes and peace agreements. In conclusion, Greece stands ready to continue supporting the United Nations police in its important work.

We appreciate the convening of this meeting, and we thank the briefers for their valuable contributions and detailed presentations. (spoke in English) It is uplifting to see so many blue berets in the Chamber. Their presence here reminds us that their commitment and service keep peacekeeping operations alive and connected to the people who we aspire to serve in conflict zones. Panama thanks them for their service and for wearing with dignity the United Nations blue, a symbol that still gives those of us who believe in the founding principles of the United Nations hope for peace. (spoke in Spanish) The United Nations police (UNPOL) constitutes an integral element of peace operations, in line with the advances delivered by the Pact for the Future and the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. Through their sacrificial effort, in coordination with their military and civilian counterparts, they help to protect the population before and after conflicts. In a global context marked by a lack of financing for peace and for meeting humanitarian needs, this is a timely moment to reflect on the safety and well-being of United Nations police. Our acknowledgment today should also be paired with the highest level of rigour and development in terms of planning, resource allocation and capacity-building. It is crucial to support the work that takes place during transitions, when responsibilities proliferate, and United Nations police and staff must coordinate responses at each operational axis — be it to strengthen the rule of law, to train and provide mentorship to national police forces or to assist with the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants and ex-terrorists. In addition to these duties, there are others that entail equal risk, such as the protection of civilians and reconciliation and reconstruction processes. We note with concern such cases as that of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, at which it is increasingly difficult to fulfil the missions’ mandate of protecting civilians, precisely because of the aforementioned cuts and various factors, including political, security and operational factors. We understand the political and security situations in the contexts in which they operate, and we take note of the points that both Commissioners highlighted in their briefings. Panama welcomes innovation, but that innovation must be planned and take into account the population’s needs. That is why we call for continued promotion of more flexible deployment models that enable UNPOL to respond with greater agility to changing operational environments. We also consider it vital to strengthen UNPOL’s capacity-building in response to emerging challenges, including the responsible use of new technologies, digital investigation, evidence management and data protection, in full accordance with international law and human rights. Each reduction in uniformed personnel or rushed drawdown means diminished ability to protect the civilian population, prevent violence and support sustainable transitions. If we truly wish to acknowledge the work of the United Nations police and personnel in the field, we must guarantee that their mandates have the resources and capacities required to implement them effectively. Achieving ceasefire agreements is commendable. However, one of the most complex tasks is to rebuild and, in addition, to ensure that agreements are lasting. We acknowledge that this process requires efforts and resources that only the United Nations peacebuilding system, with its strategic vision, can accomplish. Similarly, as was already mentioned in the briefings, it is imperative to pursue greater integration of the women and peace and security agenda into UNPOL’s work. The meaningful participation of women police officers strengthens access and dialogue with communities. It also improves the identification of and response to sexual and gender-based violence and helps to build trust between the local population and security institutions. In conclusion, we must strengthen and revitalize the structure of the United Nations, not weaken it. We must strengthen what already works, building on existing capabilities and doing away with what does not bring added value so that the results can be measured objectively. Panama reiterates its utmost admiration and support for the United Nations police and all United Nations personnel, who are operating in complex and challenging contexts.

I thank Under-Secretary- General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar and the Police Commissioners of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of the heads of the police components of various United Nations peace operations. In a context of protracted conflicts, growing tensions, social fragmentation and sophisticated transnational organized crime activity, the police component of peace operations plays a key role. It is a pillar of legitimacy, trust and protection and a bridge between immediate security and sustainable peace. In that regard, I want to mention four aspects. First, I wish to highlight the strategic value of the police’s work with communities. Inclusive dialogue and confidence-building measures are key to reducing fear, preventing abuse, contributing to the protection of civilians, reducing community violence and ultimately building peace, on the ground and with social legitimacy. In that context, it is crucial to take into consideration the differentiated needs of women, young people and other specific population groups. For that reason, we value the contribution of United Nations police to preventing gender-based violence, promoting women’s participation and, consequently, implementing the women and peace and security agenda. At the same time, we welcome the sustained increase in the number of women police officers in peacekeeping operations and insist that dialogue should be maintained with the authorities, civil society and the organizations that defend women’s rights, facilitating the incorporation of gender perspectives and a human rights approach in protection systems. Secondly, I wish to recognize the role of United Nations police in the consolidation of the rule of law and in the generation and strengthening of institutional capacities. Helping to the professionalize the security forces and supporting the conduct of electoral processes provide an enabling and necessary environment for the consolidation and maintenance of peace. Based on our experience, as both recipients and providers of police cooperation, we highlight the importance of national ownership for the success of institutional strengthening processes. Without national ownership, it is impossible to sustain the generated capacities. Thirdly, I wish to point out the need for the police component to be adjusted so as to respond effectively to both traditional armed conflicts and contemporary threats arising from transnational organized crime, the effects of climate change and cybersecurity challenges. Sustained support from States, strategic alliances and a focus on training and updating are essential for UNPOL to have the necessary capabilities to anticipate, understand and combat these phenomena. Fourthly, I wish to highlight the need to work together on the balance between mandates, expectations and available resources. The reality on the ground and the Charter of the United Nations must guide the definition of clear and realistic mandates, which must be accompanied by sufficient and predictable resources. In this regard, Colombia draws attention to the effects of the liquidity crisis on missions’ capacity to protect civilians and support institutional strengthening and, in general, on confidence in the Organization. That is why we are looking forward to the results of the review of peace operations, and we stand ready for constructive dialogue regarding the necessary adjustments that will improve the tools of the United Nations, including UNPOL, for peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In conclusion, Colombia reiterates its support for United Nations police and will support its consolidation as a police force for peace that is professional, close to the community and territories and respectful of human rights.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Police Adviser Shahkar, Police Commissioner Ouédraogo and Police Commissioner Schlotmann for their briefings. United Nations police (UNPOL) forms an integral part of United Nations peace operations, playing an irreplaceable role in restoring public security, rebuilding the rule of law and protecting civilians in post-conflict countries. I pay high tribute to UNPOL, which is steadfastly fulfilling its duties and making selfless contributions to United Nations missions. China supports the United Nations in its ongoing efforts to strengthen and improve the work of UNPOL, ensuring that it can make greater contributions to maintaining international peace and security. I wish to make three points. First, UNPOL must serve the overarching peacekeeping strategy. Its deployment and operations must adhere to the fundamental imperative of political settlement, closely coordinate with political processes and respect the sovereignty and leadership of host countries. UNPOL’s ultimate goal is not to replace local forces but to assist host Governments in enhancing their law enforcement capabilities, facilitating their gradual resumption and independent assumption of public security responsibilities. Through coordinated political and security efforts, conflict-affected areas can progressively achieve stability and self-governance. Secondly, UNPOL must adapt to increasingly complex and evolving environments. Current peacekeeping operations face mounting challenges, with traditional and non- traditional security threats becoming increasingly intertwined and compounded. In the digital age, the spread of mis- and disinformation fuels public misperceptions, posing new risks to the security, effectiveness and credibility of missions. UNPOL should continuously enhance capacity-building, prioritizing specialized training in civilian protection, community policing and responses to emerging security threats. This will make them better equipped to operate in challenging environments, ensuring the more effective maintenance of social order and the protection of civilian safety. Thirdly, UNPOL must continually enhance its operational performance and credibility. Efficient resource utilization is inherent to the duties of peace operations. A culture of efficiency should therefore be promoted throughout the UNPOL life cycle, with greater resource integration to reduce the duplication of efforts. Performance evaluation systems must be refined, fully incorporating host country feedback, and evaluation outcomes should be effectively translated into improved operational methods and performance. A zero-tolerance approach to misconduct must be upheld and accountability mechanisms strengthened, and UNPOL must perform its duties in accordance with regulations, thereby enhancing the trust of the local communities it serves. Over the past 26 years of participation in UNPOL, Chinese police officers have consistently upheld the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, strictly adhered to the three core principles of peacekeeping, performed their duties with loyalty and discipline and fulfilled all United Nations-mandated tasks to the highest standard. China has dispatched more than 2,700 police officers to 18 United Nations peacekeeping operations and United Nations Headquarters, establishing a presence across four continents. All Chinese peacekeeping police officers have been awarded the United Nations Peace Medal, reflecting their commitment to justice, professionalism, civility and confidence. In addition, China has also provided long-term financial support to UNPOL-related projects through the China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund. China will actively implement the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative as championed by President Xi Jinping, continue to participate actively in United Nations peace operations, including UNPOL, and translate China’s commitment to world peace and security into concrete actions.

I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, United Nations Police Adviser, Faisal Shahkar, and Police Commissioners Mamouna Ouédraogo and Meinolf Schlotmann for their briefings. We also welcome the presence in the Chamber of senior United Nations police (UNPOL) leadership from peacekeeping missions and special political missions around the world. This meeting clearly brings out the fundamental role of peacekeeping in giving effect to the Security Council’s primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Under-Secretary-General Lacroix rightly recalled that peacekeeping is a collective responsibility. As the Ambassador of Liberia noted at the outset of his very enlightening intervention, that collective responsibility also entails paying our utmost tribute to our peacekeepers, all our blue helmets. The United Nations police constitute a core operational pillar of peacekeeping. While there are challenges, as has been highlighted, we appreciate the detailed manner in which the briefers also highlighted the achievements and priorities of UNPOL across various missions. Its role in supporting political processes, protecting civilians, strengthening the rule of law and enabling sustainable transitions is central, particularly as missions operate in increasingly complex, volatile and resource-constrained environments. In many contexts, UNPOL represents the most visible and trusted interface between the United Nations and local communities. Pakistan’s police, along with our military, has been a traditional contributor to United Nations missions. Over the years, Pakistan has deployed more than 50 formed police units in service of United Nations peace operations, including in Haiti, Darfur, Timor-Leste, Côte d’Ivoire and other situations. Eleven of our brave police personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty. The current readiness of a Pakistani formed police unit at the rapid deployment level highlights our preparedness to continue supporting international peace and security efforts. Pakistani police officers have earned respect for their professionalism and devotion to duty under the United Nations police banner, as also exemplified by the leadership of Mr. Faisal Shahkar of the United Nations Police Division. I would also like to recall that Pakistani policewoman Shahzadi Gulfam was the first-ever recipient of the International Female Police Peacekeeper Award in 2011. Last month, 13 Pakistani police personnel, including 3 women, serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, were awarded United Nations Medals in recognition of their meritorious service. We are concerned, like other members, about the current challenges faced by United Nations peacekeeping, both financial and those arising from a lack of host State cooperation. Pakistan underscores the importance of full cooperation by host States to enable the timely deployment of peacekeepers, including police components, where authorized by the Security Council. Further, the missions are operating under acute financial distress, leading to ad hoc capacity reductions with direct implications for mandate delivery and the safety and security of peacekeepers. Despite its growing importance, United Nations police continues to face gaps between mandated tasks and available resources. Out of an authorized UNPOL strength of approximately 7,740, only 4,600 personnel, for example, are currently deployed. Further reductions will only hurt peacekeeping efforts. We encourage all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time, enabling the full delivery of Council mandates. Lastly, the financial crisis and the review and reform processes must not impede the United Nations capacity to have an impact on the ground. The blue helmets are the most visible symbol of the United Nations commitment to peace and stability. Peacekeeping brings relevance and legitimacy to this Organization by making a tangible difference in people’s lives on the ground. Pakistan will continue working with all stakeholders constructively to ensure that United Nations peacekeeping and policing remain adequately resourced and operationally capable to perform their critical mandated tasks.

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Mr. Faisal Shahkar, United Nations Police Adviser; Ms. Mamouna Ouédraogo, Police Commissioner of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Mr. Meinolf Schlotmann, Police Commissioner of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, for their valuable briefings. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend all those working in peacekeeping operations, including United Nations police personnel. I would like to express my sincere condolences and sympathy to the loved ones of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, and I sincerely thank all Member States contributing troops to United Nations police. United Nations police has always been of paramount importance to the maintenance of international peace and security, by providing support in conflict zones, post-conflict transitional phases and peacebuilding initiatives. This calls for concerted international efforts under the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and the Pact for the Future to strengthen the adaptive capacities of these forces to address emerging challenges, build confidence, ensure security and enhance community cooperation to protect civilians and address serious crimes for a safer, more peaceful, just and sustainable world. In this regard, I would like to touch on the following points. First, in the light of the current situation in the world today, it is important to have clarity and flexibility in the objectives and mandates of the United Nations police operations and transparency regarding the timeline for their implementation. It is also important to conduct periodic and on-the-ground adjustments and assessments to adapt to emerging challenges and ensure the optimal use of the available financial and human resources. Secondly, the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for increased flexibility and realism in the frameworks of United Nations police operations, through the use of modern technology, such as artificial intelligence, to contribute to enhancing the ability of these forces to adapt to different and diverse variables and to ensure the continuity of these operations and their effectiveness faced with geopolitical challenges and the challenges imposed on financial and human resources in this regard. Thirdly, it is important to strengthen the role of partnerships with host countries. This plays a pivotal role in improving the capacity of the police of host countries. This is where the role of United Nations police comes in, in supporting capacity-building and institutional development programmes, rebuilding structures and providing training programmes for the police of host countries, in a way that enables them to ensure the safety of their citizens and the enforcement of the rule of law to achieve the desired peace and stability. Fourthly, the Kingdom of Bahrain believes in the need to enhance the status of women and to ensure their participation in all areas and affairs of public life. In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomes the efforts made in recent years by the United Nations police to achieve these objectives in order to ensure equitable opportunities between both men and women, and we call upon the United Nations police to enhance the role of women in its ranks and to increase the proportion of women effectively participating in peacekeeping operations, in line with the women and peace and security agenda. The Kingdom of Bahrain looks forward to the 2026 United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit in July. The Summit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences and skills in the field of police work in order to address current and emerging security challenges. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain will continue to support all efforts to strengthen collaboration to support United Nations police operations in the service of security, stability and peace at the regional and international levels.

I thank you, Mr. President, and all of our briefers today. I also extend a special thank you to all police-contributing countries and the police who serve. United Nations police contribute significantly to peacekeeping by protecting civilians, controlling civil disorder, policing borders, training and mentoring host country police and institutionalizing the rule of law. This is particularly evident in South Sudan, where the police personnel of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) conduct joint patrols, community policing initiatives and capacity-building workshops with the South Sudan National Police Service. These efforts are essential to delivering UNMISS’s mandate. They strengthen professionalism, accountability and community trust, which enables local police to address security challenges more effectively. In Haiti, resolution 2793 (2025) authorized the deployment of a new Gang Suppression Force, with a United Nations Support Office in Haiti. We are now witnessing a new hybrid model, adapted to meet the emerging needs to counter transnational criminal organizations and share the cost burden among Member States. The Gang Suppression Force will confront a gang threat that has metastasized into an insurgent threat. In an effort to restore baseline security, the Gang Suppression Force will deploy a force predominantly of military elements, but with police contingents working in tandem to execute critical policing functions. We expect to learn lessons from the Gang Suppression Force experience as the Force deploys and as police and military contingents work together to neutralize the gangs. These lessons can be integrated into future multinational operations. Member States must prepare police with specialized training to match the growing complexity of today’s challenges, especially in areas such as addressing organized crime and conducting forensic investigations, including digital forensics. We appreciate the Department of Peace Operations’ work in recent months to identify practical steps to improve data-sharing between United Nations police and national police services. This will build the capacity of national police services to more effectively address current and future threats. This is a vital step to helping United Nations operations effectively transfer responsibilities to host States. We look forward to continued innovation as United Nations police bring together missions, host State law enforcement and local communities to meet today’s emerging challenges.

We would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Director of the United Nations Police Division Mr. Shahkar, Police Commissioner of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Meinolf Schlotmann and Police Commissioner of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Mamouna Ouédraogo. We are grateful for their detailed briefings. The police play a key role in the life of any State, not only as a force that deals with crime, but also as an institution on which security, justice and trust in society directly hinge. In conflict-affected countries, that image of the police is often associated precisely with United Nations peacekeepers. After all, it is precisely the blue helmets who largely engage with people. In their daily contact with locals and authorities, they must strive to build effective communication, with due regard to cultural and national peculiarities, as well as to potential ethnic, religious and other differences. The success of such communication is what largely shapes people’s attitudes towards the mission as a whole. An irreplaceable role in establishing such trust-based contact can also be played by female police officers. Although the number of women in peacekeeping has already exceeded all planned targets, we would like to emphasize once again that it is important, above all, to focus on mandated tasks, their effective implementation, the actual circumstances of deployment and the assessment of the security situation. In addition, when assigning women to United Nations peacekeeping missions, including to leadership positions, the principle of broad geographical representation must be strictly observed. Depending on the mandate of a specific mission, the scope of activities caried out by police peacekeepers can range from providing guidance to local colleagues to fully ensuring public order using their own forces. Often, the national law enforcement bodies of host countries are significantly weakened or even entirely absent. In such conditions, organized crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, sexual violence and violence against children flourish. United Nations police are better prepared for such circumstances and, therefore, they can make a significant contribution to the critical task of protecting civilians from immediate security threats and assisting national law enforcement personnel. At the same time, it is important to avoid situations in which the long-term presence of missions essentially results in the United Nations substituting the local police. It is necessary to focus on providing assistance in the reform of national law enforcement and improving the national capacity of host countries. This involves transferring experience, establishing procedures and training personnel. The more effectively this task is carried out, the faster responsibility for maintaining law and order will be fully transferred to national forces, and the higher the likelihood that, after the drawdown or withdrawal of the mission, the capacities of national forces will ensure that security and the infrastructure established during the mission’s presence will endure and not deteriorate. The peacekeeping mission and, subsequently, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, was actively engaged in training the local police. As a result, inter alia, of United Nations assistance, the Haitian National Police, despite intense pressure from gangs, not only maintained its capacity but also replenished the ranks with new personnel and managed to keep critically important areas and infrastructure under State control. We regret that the police component was recently removed from the new Haiti mandate. It is yet to be seen how the Gang Suppression Force and bilateral partners will cope with this crucial task. For many years, the police component of MONUSCO has been valiantly fulfilling its duty. Thousands of police officers from dozens of countries have served in this Mission, protecting civilians and maintaining law and order. The MONUSCO blue helmets have also made a significant contribution to facilitating the security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, training Congolese law enforcement personnel and developing police infrastructure and penitentiary facilities in the host country. We proudly note that police officers from Russia have actively participated and will continue to participate in the important work on all the aforementioned tracks. We are closely following the process of reducing the police component of MONUSCO as part of the Secretariat’s measures to optimize financial support for peacekeeping operations. Significant reductions, including those related to the liquidity crisis, are now also taking place in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. The potential negative consequences of such steps on the situation on the ground must be minimized, and any emerging contentious issues with host States and troop-contributing countries resolved through dialogue. It is important to focus on ensuring that the restored capacity of law enforcement forces and in the area of the rule of law is sustainable and long-lasting. Whatever challenges United Nations police officers may face in the future or are already facing now, especially given the substantial reductions in peacekeeping contingents in most missions, they must be professionally trained and provided with the necessary equipment. They must also be highly motivated to perform their duties. In this regard, we support the work being done to improve the training level of police peacekeepers, which is being carried out by the Secretariat and through bilateral intergovernmental cooperation and many regional organizations, primarily the African Union. Our country actively contributes to this common cause. Since the year 2000, hundreds of foreign police peacekeepers, including commanders, from more than 50 countries, mostly from Africa, have taken United Nations-certified courses at the All- Russian Peacekeeping Training Centre of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Domodedovo. Among them are many women. We have unique experience in the area of professional training of peacekeepers, and we stand ready to share this experience. As a police-contributing country, the Russian Federation seeks to increase its contribution to United Nations peacekeeping activities and to assign personnel with the most sought-after skills to missions. Hundreds of Russian blue helmets have already contributed to maintaining peace and security in various regions, and dozens continue to serve in the peacekeeping ranks. More than a third of them are women serving in five United Nations missions. Among them are specialists in such areas as forensics, criminal investigation, maintaining public order and administrative activity.

I thank Under-Secretary General Jean- Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, and Ms. Mamouna Ouédraogo and Mr. Meinolf Schlotmann, Heads of the police components of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, respectively, for their enlightening briefings. France pays tribute to United Nations police personnel, police officers and gendarmes who have served the cause of peace in often difficult conditions and in close proximity to civilian populations. France honours the memory of those who lost their lives under the United Nations flag and applauds the commitment of police-contributing countries. The United Nations police achieves results and must continue to do so. In a complex international environment, the United Nations police has evolved, become more professional and demonstrated its usefulness. Women’s participation, including in the most senior positions, is a success that must be consolidated. The attention provided by the police components to women and children facing violence during conflicts and beyond builds trust among the population and strengthens United Nations effectiveness. These precious gains, which are inherently fragile, must be sustained over time. In a context of budgetary constraints and as part of the UN80 Initiative, let us double down on what makes the United Nations great: the quality of its personnel and its presence on the ground among the population. The peace operations review provides an opportunity to better leverage the United Nations police to facilitate and support transitions. Working in strict compliance with the law and the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the police is a pillar of the rule of law, be it as part of national units within their borders or deployed in international operations. Thus, the United Nations police participates directly in protecting populations and makes it possible to support host countries in strengthening their capacity to uphold the rule of law, a vital element of peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Police components must therefore continue to strengthen national security forces, work with the justice and penitentiary system, reform the security sector and prepare for the future with local populations. These are long-term actions that extend beyond the period in which a mission is deployed. That is the case of the activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, in addition to the already substantial work that that Mission is doing in partnership with police officers and gendarmes. Lastly, let us examine the consequences of this. In many regions, conflicts, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and terrorism are linked. These local and transnational criminal dynamics fuel instability, weaken institutions over the long term and endanger populations. Faced with these scourges, the United Nations police provides its expertise in support of national efforts. That has been the case in Haiti, where the experience of previous missions is a lever of expertise for the Multinational Security Support Mission mandated by the Council. In Colombia, the United Nations police is contributing to the full implementation of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace. France supports this comprehensive approach, which is based on cooperation, the sharing of expertise and the link between security, justice and development. The holding in New York of the fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit in July is an opportunity to consolidate the action of the United Nations police, which is a major asset for peace. France reaffirms its confidence in and support for the United Nations police.

I wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Police Adviser Shahkar, and Police Commissioners Ouédraogo and Schlotmann for their insightful briefings, and I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all United Nations police personnel for their service and sacrifice. United Nations police contingents constitute an integral part of United Nations peacekeeping operations and efforts to maintain international peace and security. They help to address a wide spectrum of conflict-related security challenges and associated fragility, in particular with regard to upholding the rule of law. I would like to underscore three points that, in our view, merit closer attention as we seek to further strengthen United Nations police activities while managing resource constraints. First, we need to equip police contingents with the necessary skills and tools to operate effectively in volatile environments. From uncrewed aerial vehicles to artificial intelligence-enabled data platforms, technologies can play a crucial role as a force multiplier. The aim is not to replace the functions of police personnel, in particular community engagement, but to help to shift their work from reactive to predictive. Also, challenges related to misinformation and disinformation can disrupt peace efforts and fuel security risks for mission personnel and local populations. Latvia will engage in the work of the newly established advisory group on strengthening information integrity in United Nations peacekeeping. We welcome the group’s focus on producing concrete deliverables, including training packages for police officers performing strategic communications functions in missions. Secondly, we are convinced that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women is key to the effectiveness of the work of United Nations police components, as we heard in today’s briefings. Women personnel bring their own experiences and perspectives to peacekeeping efforts, helping to build trusted relationships with local communities. Latvia supports the work of the High-Level Network on Gender- Responsive Policing, which focuses both on promoting gender diversity in police forces and on improving the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. Our national experience, with women constituting nearly 47 per cent of Latvia’s police force, shows that inclusive institutions that mirror the societies they serve are the ones that work best. Thirdly, for United Nations missions to deliver consistent results across the peace continuum, police components must be fully in sync with civilian and military components, and we should avoid siloed approaches with each component pursuing misaligned objectives, which leads to fragmented outcomes. Together with more than 40 troop- and police-contributing countries, Latvia has joined the initiative by Denmark and Austria on a letter outlining concrete steps to advance integrated planning across United Nations peace operations. Their aim is to ensure that Security Council mandates are translated into actionable and whole-of-mission plans. The outcome of the United Nations peace operations review and the next iteration of Action for Peacekeeping Plus strategy should guide efforts towards such an approach for current and future deployments. In conclusion, we welcome today’s discussion and recognize the importance of paying sustained attention to matters related to United Nations policing. We look forward to the upcoming United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit in July, which will provide an opportunity for more in-depth discussions on enhancing the capacities and role of United Nations police.

Let me also thank today’s briefers for their insightful remarks, in particular the perspectives shared from the front lines of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Let me also thank all United Nations peacekeepers, who keep working under extremely difficult circumstances, and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price in their efforts for peace. We meet at a time when the nature of conflict is changing. Many crises today are driven not only by political violence but by illicit economies and criminal actors exercising control on the ground. This has serious implications for how the United Nations approaches peace operations and transitions and for how police functions operate within that framework. Allow me to make three points. First, peace operations remain an essential tool. They protect civilians, support political processes and help stabilize fragile situations. United Nations police (UNPOL) is an important part of these tasks, today and in the future. We see it in UNMISS, where United Nations police provides critical front-line support to the Mission’s protection of civilians mandate. This includes preventive and confidence‑building patrols, community‑oriented policing and measures to prevent sexual and gender‑based violence. Through mentoring and advising the South Sudan National Police Service and deploying mixed and all‑female teams, United Nations police strengthens trust in State institutions, enhances early warning and information‑gathering and helps create safer conditions for durable peace. But there is still work to be done. Haiti provides a stark example, where gangs operate as de facto authorities, undermining governance and the rule of law. If such dynamics shape the conflict, they must also be reflected in how missions are designed, sequenced and transitioned, including how and when police functions are brought in. Secondly, across several missions, United Nations police operates in extremely challenging environments, often with limited authority and limited resources. This is not a failure of United Nations police but a reflection of mandates and mission designs that do not always match the realities on the ground. As we have heard, United Nations police plays a pivotal role in fostering trust and solidarity with local communities. UNPOL bridges peacekeeping missions and host communities. It builds trust and solidarity through community-oriented policing. UNPOL is not an add-on at the end of a mission; it is a strategic bridge between military stabilization and lasting peace. UNPOL also supports transitions from conflict to sustainable peace, where there is a need for law enforcement institutions that can uphold public order, protect civilians and restore trust in the State, with full respect for the rule of law and human rights. With these perspectives in mind, we look forward to the upcoming review on the future of all forms of United Nations peace operations, to consider how United Nations policing can be better integrated into the wider peacekeeping architecture, including through specialist expertise and the smarter use of new technologies. And thirdly, there is still a need to strengthen the mission-level planning process that brings civilian, police and military components into one effects-based plan tied to mandate priorities. That is why Denmark, together with Austria, is leading an initiative together with 40 Member States to strengthen the planning. This means embedding police leadership and expertise from day one into mandate design, operational planning and transition strategies. In closing, if peace operations are to deliver lasting results, policing cannot be an afterthought; it must be planned early, resourced properly and treated as a strategic function within peace operations. Denmark remains committed to strengthening the role of policing within present and future United Nations peace operations.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United Kingdom. First, let me thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Police Adviser Shahkar, Commissioner Ouédraogo and Commissioner Schlotmann for their insightful briefings. The United Kingdom pays tribute to the United Nations police who bravely serve in peacekeeping missions around the world. United Nations policing is fundamental to effective peacekeeping in many contexts. To sustain impact, it must continue to adapt. To that end, technology, including new digital tools, should be used to enhance the effectiveness of United Nations policing, supported by strong digital competency within missions. New technologies can make missions more effective by enhancing operational awareness and deepening community engagement, but only if peacekeepers have the right skills and training to use them. Secondly, it is vital that, like all peacekeepers, United Nations police uphold and reinforce the highest human rights, conduct and accountability standards. These principles form the basis of trust with local populations and are critical for mission effectiveness. Any form of misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, is unacceptable. This requires timely and transparent accountability processes, with consistent national follow-up and publicly accessible reporting on disciplinary results. Thirdly, we must be clear that the meaningful participation of women in United Nations policing is an operational necessity, not an optional extra. As we heard clearly today, women police strengthen community engagement, broaden access and improve the reporting of conflict-related sexual violence. For our part, the United Kingdom remains committed to tackling barriers to women’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping, including through our long-standing support for the Elsie Initiative Fund, to which we pledged a further $685,000 in 2025. Together, these efforts will help ensure that United Nations policing remains capable, trusted and effective. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.