S/RES/2185 (2014)
Security Council Distr.: General 20 November 2014
Resolution 2185 (2014) Adopted by the Security Council at its 7317th meeting, on 20 November 2014
The Security Council, Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recalling its resolutions 2151 (2014) on security sector reform, 2167 (2014) and 2086 (2013) on United Nations peacekeeping operations, 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians, 1325 (2000) and all subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security, 2143 (2014) and previous resolutions on children and armed conflict, 2117 (2013) on small arms and light weapons, and the statements of its President of 21 February 2014 on the rule of law (S/PRST/2014/5) and 20 December 2012 on post-conflict peacebuilding (S/PRST/2012/29), as well as other relevant resolutions and statements of its President, Reiterating the need for a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention and sustainable peace, which comprises operational and structural measures for the prevention of armed conflict and addresses its root causes, including through strengthening the rule of law at international and national levels and promoting sustained economic growth, poverty eradication, social development, sustainable development, national reconciliation, good governance, democracy, gender equality and respect for, and protection of, human rights, Stressing that the success of the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions requires close cooperation between the different elements of these missions under the overall leadership of the Head of Mission, Reaffirming its commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including its commitment to and respect for the principles of political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States in conducting all peacekeeping activities and the need for States to comply with their obligations under international law, Reaffirming that respect for the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate, is essential to the success of peacekeeping operations,
S/RES/2185 (2014)
14-65230 2 /10
Recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping operation and special political mission is specific to the needs and situation of the country concerned, Reaffirming the principles of impartiality, consent of the parties, national ownership and national responsibility, and stressing the significance of the views of and dialogue with countries hosting special political missions, Noting that host-State policing institutions are often the primary link between the government and communities on security issues, and reiterating that professional, effective, accountable, and accessible law enforcement, corrections, and judicial institutions are necessary to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and national development, Acknowledging the significant growth in the role of Police Components as an integral part of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, and the increasingly diverse and complex policing-related tasks in the mandates of such operations and missions, noting that Police Components can include both uniformed United Nations Police officers and civilian policing experts, noting the distinct roles performed by Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Formed Police Units (FPUs) and the increasing demand for these different capacities, stressing that use of these capacities should be based on the situation and the needs of the host State and noting the necessity of aligning tasks of United Nations police components with missions’ mandated tasks, Stressing that United Nations policing-related work makes an invaluable contribution to peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding, security, the rule of law, and the creation of a basis for development, Recalling that policing-related aspects of mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions may include support for the reform, restructuring and development of host State policing and other law enforcement institutions; providing operational support to host-State policing and other law enforcement institutions; and conducting interim policing and other law enforcement, Underlining the importance of close coordination of the range of United Nations policing activities, both at headquarters and in the field, in particular between Security Council-mandated missions and the United Nations Country Team, as appropriate, and encouraging relevant United Nations entities mandated to undertake policing activities to work through existing coordination mechanisms, as appropriate, Noting that United Nations Police Components face a range of challenges, including a need for specialized skills and equipment and to ensure a unified policing approach, given the various policing models across police-contributing countries, Recalling reports of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly which have provided guidance to the United Nations Secretariat on the subject of United Nations policing, including the development of a United Nations standardized approach to policing, and recognising the inclusive consultative process undertaken by the Police Division of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations in the development of the Strategic Guidance Framework for International Police Peacekeeping,
S/RES/2185 (2014)
3/10 14 -65230
Emphasizing the importance of Member States contributing police with professional skills, experience and expertise to carry out the mandated tasks, who are appropriately trained and vetted and, where appropriate, operationally ready and deployed with the full complement of contingent-owned equipment, welcoming cooperation between the United Nations, police-contributing countries, other member states and relevant regional and international organizations to help ensure FPUs are properly trained and equipped, and underscoring the importance of such cooperation, Noting the increasing use of modern technologies by United Nations Police Components, including information and communication technologies such as closed circuit television, specialized crime data software and geographic information mapping systems, and other technologies such as advanced metal detectors, laboratory equipment and drug, explosive and ballistic detection and analysis systems, to increase their abilities to carry out their mandates efficiently and effectively and to enhance their safety and security, and encouraging the United Nations Secretariat to ensure that these technologies, when deployed, are integrated effectively into United Nations policing work consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the basic principles of peacekeeping, and that the confidentiality of all data gathered by such assets is preserved as detailed in relevant specific procedures, Welcoming the announcement of the Secretary-General of a comprehensive review of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions and taking note of the announcement of the Secretary-General of the establishment of a high level independent panel to conduct the review, Noting the designation of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Development Programme as the joint global focal point for police, justice and corrections areas, Recalling the sovereign right and the primary responsibility of the State concerned to determine the national approach and priorities of security sector reform, including reform of policing and other law enforcement institutions, and recognizing that such reform should be a nationally owned process that is rooted in the particular needs and conditions of the country in question and encouraging the development of expertise in the field of security sector reform at the national level, Noting the important role that United Nations Police Components can play in supporting, and coordinating international support for, reform of host State policing institutions and building policing capacity in a comprehensive way that emphasizes a community-oriented approach and is integrated with other areas of security sector reform and the rule of law, Emphasising that good governance and oversight of policing and law enforcement services, within the framework of a functional justice and corrections system, are important in ensuring that those services are accountable, responsive and capable of serving the population, Highlighting the important role that United Nations Police Components can play, where mandated, in consultation with the host State and in collaboration with other components, in supporting host States to uphold their primary responsibility to protect civilians as well as respect and ensure the human rights of all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction, including inter alia through:
S/RES/2185 (2014)
14-65230 4 /10
monitoring and deterrence, early warning and prevention, support to basic safety and security, physical protection, creating protective environments, assisting national security sector reform programs, capacity building, and political engagement with host-State counterparts, Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, including in relation to policing and the rule of law, Taking note of and encouraging the increased participation of female police in United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, thereby contributing to the effectiveness of relevant mandate implementation, including by providing diverse perspectives which can assist in building trust with local communities; improving the protection of women and children from violence and abuse; and facilitating gender-sensitive police approaches and mentoring, Recalling the launch of the United Nations Global Effort in 2009 to promote an increase in the percentage of female police officers in United Nations peacekeeping missions to 20 per cent by 2014, welcoming the increase in female police in peacekeeping operations since the launch of the United Nations Global Effort, and encouraging States and the United Nations Secretary-General to strengthen efforts to support the realisation of the 20 per cent goal, Recognizing innovative practices to improve the success of United Nations policing in recognizing specific needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments, including the need for protection from sexual and gender-based violence and for community strategies that reflect women’s needs, such as the deployment of women within FPUs and the establishment of special protection units, Reiterating that the protection of children in armed conflict should be an important aspect of any comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict and build peace, reiterating in this regard the importance of providing United Nations Police Components with specialized pre-deployment and in-mission training on mission- specific child protection and on appropriate comprehensive child-sensitive prevention and protection responses, as well as monitoring and reporting on violations and abuses committed against children, and stressing the importance of enhancing coordination between Police Components and child protection advisers as well as gender and women protection advisers, Highlighting the important role that United Nations Police Components can play in building the capacity of host-State policing and other law enforcement institutions, as mandated, to address organized crime, particularly through support in the areas of border, immigration and maritime security and crime prevention, response and investigation, Highlighting that impartial, responsive, accountable, community-oriented police institutions with well-trained personnel can help to counter violent extremism, including through building trust and dialogue between state authorities and communities,
S/RES/2185 (2014)
5/10 14 -65230
Noting the role that Police Components can play in assisting host governments in implementation and compliance monitoring of Council-mandated sanctions measures including, where mandated, through provision of advice and assistance, Recognizing the role that regional and subregional organizations can play in post-conflict peacebuilding including security sector reform (SSR) and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), rule of law, recovery, reconstruction and development processes, including through support for host State policing and other law enforcement institutions, and affirming the importance of interaction and cooperation between peacekeeping operations and special political missions and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, Paying tribute to the memory of United Nations peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, and in this regard, underscoring the importance of safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers, expressing grave concern about the security threats and targeted attacks against United Nations peacekeepers in many peacekeeping missions that constitute a major challenge to United Nations peacekeeping operations, condemning in the strongest terms killing of and all acts of violence against United Nations peacekeeping personnel, and emphasizing that perpetrators of such attacks must be brought to justice, Reaffirming that the primary responsibility for the security and protection of personnel employed by the United Nations system organizations rests with the host Government, and noting that complementary to the host Government responsibility, the safety and security of individually deployed police personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, including, but not limited to United Nations police officers, or members of FPUs when not deployed with their unit, falls under the security arrangements of the United Nations Security Management System, 1. Resolves to include, as appropriate, policing as an integral part of the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, and to give clear, credible, and achievable mandates for policing-related activities, matched by appropriate resources; 2. Stresses the importance of strong cooperation and coordination between United Nations Police Components and other elements of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, in support of the mandate and under the overall leadership of the Head of Mission; 3. Urges police-contributing countries to continue to contribute professional police personnel with the necessary skills, equipment and experience to implement mission mandates, including, where relevant, multidimensional peacekeeping mandates, underlining the importance of appropriate language skills at relevant levels to fulfil the mandate and of gender expertise, and urges prospective police- contributors to also contribute such personnel, to help ensure the demand for professional police personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions is fully met; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to further promote professionalism, effectiveness and system-wide coherence in the policing-related work of the United Nations including, in close consultation, as appropriate, with Member States and the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations in full respect of its vital role, through:
S/RES/2185 (2014)
14-65230 6 /10
a. the development and implementation of standards and guidance for United Nations policing-related work, through the Strategic Guidance Framework for International Police Peacekeeping; b. the development of comprehensive, standardized training for United Nations Police Components, including pre-deployment, induction and in-service training; c. the provision of senior police leadership training, including through the Senior Mission Leaders’ Course; d. the development of strong processes for evaluating the effectiveness of United Nations policing-related work; e. the streamlining and improvement of recruitment and deployment procedures for United Nations police and civilian policing experts, recognizing that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate main committee of the United Nations General Assembly entrusted with administrative and budgetary matters; and f. the coordination of work within the United Nations system on reform of policing and law enforcement institutions; 5. Recognizes that political leadership and the will of national authorities are critical to reforming host State policing and other law enforcement services, emphasizes the lead role of the host-State’s authorities in developing, as part of an inclusive national vision for its security sector, a strategy for policing and other law enforcement that promotes the rule of law and respects human rights, coordinating the implementation of the vision, dedicating national resources towards policing, law enforcement and other security institutions, and monitoring the impact of security sector reform processes, including policing reform; 6. Urges Member States and international partners to support, upon request, host State efforts to professionalize policing and other law enforcement agencies, within the context of broader security sector reform, and to ensure that international policing support is well-coordinated in support of a nationally-agreed plan, and underscores that such support should be tailored to the needs of the host State; 7. Recognizes that reform of police and other law enforcement institutions needs to be in support of, and informed by, inclusive political processes and agreements, to enhance the legitimacy of the institutions concerned and ensure wide ownership of such reform; 8. Notes the important role that United Nations Police Components can play, where mandated, in strengthening the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict situations, by inter-alia, providing operational support to host State policing and other law enforcement institutions, and supporting the reform, restructuring and rebuilding of such institutions including through technical assistance, co-location, training and mentoring programs, in the context of broader efforts to strengthen the rule of law and reform the security sector, where mandated; 9. In this regard, requests the Secretary-General to consider, as appropriate, security sector reform, including reform of policing and other law enforcement institutions, in the overall strategic planning of peacekeeping operations and special political missions in each country-specific context, and to work with Member States
S/RES/2185 (2014)
7/10 14 -65230
to enhance the capabilities and expertise of United Nations Police Components in relation to capacity development and institution building, including in the areas of: a. operational policing, including community-oriented policing and information-based policing; b. administration, management and leadership; c. governance, oversight and evaluation; d. policy formulation and strategic planning; and e. coordination with partners; 10. Emphasizes the role of peacekeeping operations and special political missions in supporting host-State policing institutions in their preparation to transition to function self-sufficiently, and underlines that this preparation for transition should be based on a timely analysis of need, in consultation with the host State, of any assistance beyond the duration of the presence of the peacekeeping operation or special political mission, to enable United Nations peacebuilding and development actors, including the United Nations Country Team, to undertake the necessary strategic planning and resource mobilisation, working in close partnership with host-State authorities, and to transfer skills and expertise to host-State officials and experts as quickly as possible in order to ensure a successful and durable transition; 11. Encourages the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives and Envoys to fully take into account the strategic value of security sector reform, including reform of host State policing and other law enforcement institutions, in their work, as appropriate, in the context of broader security sector reform efforts, including through their good offices where mandated; 12. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Standing Police Capacity in providing expertise across the broad range of policing activities and providing a rapid, coherent, effective and responsive start-up capability for the Police Components of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, and assisting existing missions through the provision of advice, expertise, base-line assessments and evaluation; 13. Requests the Secretariat to continue refining the composition of the United Nations Standing Police Capacity to ensure it includes skill sets to meet contemporary demands, including through enabling partnerships with member states and regional organisations; 14. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by the Department of Peacekeeping Operation’s Police Division to continue to explore the use of “specialized police teams” for police capacity-building, and requests the Secretary- General to report on this use, as appropriate; 15. Notes the Secretariat’s efforts to enhance inter-mission cooperation, including through the rapid redeployment of FPUs, recognizes that such cooperation can provide timely responses for critically needed capacity as an interim, short-term measure, notes the logistical challenges that can undermine the effectiveness of inter-mission cooperation, and encourages the Secretariat, in consultation with police-contributing countries, to continue to assess the practice of inter-mission
S/RES/2185 (2014)
14-65230 8 /10
cooperation with a view to streamlining standing operating procedures and improving the effectiveness of such cooperation; 16. Notes the importance of the deployment of civilian policing experts, with adequate and appropriate skills and expertise, to United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions; 17. Affirms the central role of the protection of civilians, where mandated, in the work undertaken by United Nations Police Components; 18. Affirms the importance of the role that United Nations Police Components can play, where mandated, in supporting the efforts of host authorities in the protection of civilians, particularly those under imminent threat of physical violence, including all forms of sexual and gender based violence, and in this regard, while recognising that protection of civilians is the primary responsibility of the host State, helping to build and reform policing and law enforcement institutions of the host State so they are able to sustainably and consistently protect civilians; 19. Highlights the critical role that United Nations Police Components can play in facilitating the participation and inclusion of women in dialogue on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, including on rule of law and security issues; 20. Encourages police-contributing countries to increase the percentage of women police in deployments to United Nations peacekeeping operations, in particular senior officers, including in leadership roles, and requests the Secretary- General to continue to support innovative efforts to encourage such deployment of women police and to enhance coordination between Police Components and child protection advisers as well as gender and women protection advisers; 21. Encourages police-contributing countries to provide all police personnel with adequate training to carry out their responsibilities in relation to sexual and gender-based violence and child protection, and further encourages relevant United Nations entities to make available appropriate guidance and training modules, including in particular the United Nations pre-deployment scenario-based training on prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and on children and armed conflict; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to continue and strengthen efforts to implement the policy of zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel, as well as the policy on prohibition of child labour in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and urges police-contributing countries to take appropriate preventative action, including pre-deployment and in-mission awareness training and other action to ensure full accountability, including prosecutions, in cases of such conduct involving their nationals; 23. Notes the importance of United Nations policing-related support to non-United Nations security forces adhering to the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy; 24. Reiterates that United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, including Police Components, located in a host State with Council-mandated sanctions regime, may, if deemed necessary by the Council, provide appropriate expertise to the host government, relevant sanctions committee and relevant experts groups, in the implementation and the compliance monitoring
S/RES/2185 (2014)
9/10 14 -65230
of that sanctions regime, and further notes the importance of appropriate training for United Nations Police Components in this regard; 25. Reiterates that United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, including Police Components, may, if mandated by the Council, assist in capacity building for host governments, as requested, to implement commitments under existing global and regional instruments and to address the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, including inter alia through weapons collection, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, enhancing physical security and stockpile management practices, record keeping and tracing capacities, development of national export and import control systems, enhancement of border security, and strengthening judicial institutions, policing and other law enforcement capacities; 26. Encourages information sharing, where relevant and appropriate, between Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations including its Police Division, the Department of Political Affairs, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force and the United Nations Development Program, within existing mandates and resources, when considering means to address, in a comprehensive and integrated manner, transnational organized crime, terrorism and violent extremism which can be conducive to terrorism; 27. Encourages the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to enhance its dialogue and information sharing with Special Envoys, the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, with respect to policing activities, including during the planning stages of missions, as appropriate, in relation to implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and requests the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to identify principal gaps in Member States’ capacities, including the capacities of their policing and other law- enforcement institutions, to implement Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005); 28. Affirms that United Nations Police Components, deployed as part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, may, if mandated by the Council, provide support, in consultation with the host State, as feasible and where appropriate, to the efforts of national authorities, without prejudice to the responsibilities of those authorities, to bring to justice those responsible for serious international crimes; 29. Encourages closer coordination and cooperation on policing issues between the United Nations Secretariat and international, regional and sub-regional organisations, INTERPOL and regional police organizations, including through training, the sharing and exchange of information, thematic expertise, and operational support, as appropriate; 30. Reiterates the need to further strengthen cooperation and consultation with police-contributing countries, including through triangular cooperation between the Security Council, troop and police-contributing countries and the United Nations Secretariat, to foster a spirit of partnership, cooperation, confidence and mutual trust; 31. Expresses its intention to consider holding an annual meeting on policing issues with the Heads of United Nations Police Components;
S/RES/2185 (2014)
14-65230 10 /10
32. Encourages the Secretary-General to consider the increasing role of policing, along with the many other critical issues related to peacekeeping operations and special political missions, in his upcoming strategic review of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as appropriate; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report by the end of 2016 on the role of policing as an integral part of peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, with particular focus on the challenges faced by Police Components of United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, and making recommendations on how best to strengthen their contribution to the achievement of mission mandates.
View the full document
Download (pdf, 206 KB)