The fifth UN Chiefs of Police Summit, beginning on July 7, 2026, convenes ministers, police chiefs, and senior policing representatives to discuss strengthening the role of UN policing in global peace efforts. UN Police (UNPOL) currently deploys 4,626 officers across seven UN missions, working closely with partners such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, chief of UN Peace Operations, stated, “The goal of this summit is to ensure that our Organization is aligned and prepared to support the nearly 4,500 UN Police personnel in nearly 80 countries who serve across our peace operations while also helping shape how United Nations policing continues to evolve to meet today’s increasingly complex security environment.”

He emphasized the focus on investing in peace through effective policing, strong partnerships, and supporting frontline personnel. However, Lacroix also noted that recent budget cuts due to some Member States not fully paying assessed contributions have significantly impacted operations. “The approved budgets remain in place, but without the necessary cash, those budgets cannot be fully implemented,” he said. “We have effectively had to reduce spending by around 25 per cent, and this affects nearly every aspect of our work.”

Unlike military peacekeepers, UN police engage directly with communities to strengthen national police services, rebuild public trust, and reinforce criminal justice institutions post-conflict. Their work addresses challenges ranging from organized crime and cybercrime to sexual and gender-based violence.

UN Police were first deployed in 1960 to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC), assisting peacekeepers at the request of the newly independent Republic of the Congo after Belgium sent troops without the government’s agreement to quell post-independence disorder.

Policing remains a cornerstone of peace, according to top UN officials ahead of the summit.

Sources