ALGIERS, 7 March 2016 (UN News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Member States to contribute more female police, especially French-speaking women, to serve in UN peace operations.
“They can put communities at ease and stand as inspiring role models for local women,” he said at the opening of the Fifth General Assembly of the Kigali International Conference on the role of security forces in combatting violence against women, held in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
He said that the deplorable problem of law enforcement personnel being implicated in the perpetration of violence against women and girls happens “too often,” and the UN remains firmly committed to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.
“Since I became Secretary-General almost a decade ago, I have been a staunch advocate for ending violence against women and girls,” he said, noting that in 2008, he launched the UNiTE campaign aimed at raising public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide.
Today, scores of leaders and ministers, hundreds parliamentarians and millions of individuals have added their names to the action call, and their tireless efforts have put this struggle at the centre of the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said.
Police play an essential role in fighting abuse, Mr. Ban said. They work with judicial counterparts, investigate allegations, identify alleged perpetrators, promote accountability and ensure access to remedies for victims. These are important conditions for effective prevention.
Bringing Security Council resolution 1325 to life
Through community policing, they empower societies, manage criminality, deter violence, help rebuild safety and promote public trust, he continued. They bring to life Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security.
Stressing the need for strong laws to end violence against women, including female genital mutilation, he said that UN and African Union police in peace operations help prevent and address sexual violence in conflict, which disproportionally affects women and girls.
The UN will hold a Chiefs of Police Summit, or UN Cops, in New York this June, Mr. Ban noted, encouraging all to participate in this valuable opportunity to exchange views on how to address the pressing security and rule of law challenges and how police personnel in the field can gain skills that they can bring home to their national services.
