Kuwait’s envoy highlights UN police’s role

NEW YORK: Kuwait’s Deputy Representative to the UN Bader Al-Munayekh said the police officers, deployed as part of UN peacekeeping operations across the world, serve crucial functions in post-conflict transition and building the capacities of the local partners. Speaking at a UN Security Council session on peacekeeping operations, he welcomed the fact that police units have evolved to better respond to emerging challenges facing societies. Citing that Council resolution 2382 (2017), Minister Plenipotentiary Munayekh called for the incorporation of police units to be considered in the deployment of peacekeeping operations. “Their inclusion should be explored at the very outset of a mandate and not delayed until later,” he stressed.

Echoing other speakers, Munayekh underscored the critical role played by women police officers in areas including outreach to conflict-hit communities and support to victims. Also speaking at the session were UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Police Commissioner of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) Issoufou Yacouba, Police Commissioner of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Awale Abdounasir, and Senior Police Adviser for the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Mary Gahonzire. Police commanders from peacekeeping missions in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Abyei border region between Sudan and South Sudan participated in an interactive discussion with Council members, outlining both strides made by their personnel and challenges faced. — KUNA