Publication

This paper explores the efforts of UN police forces to protect civilians from physical violence in armed conflicts, post conflict environments, and situations where low-level violence could escalate into something worse. More specifically, the paper’s author 1) discusses the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations’ (DPKO) policy on protecting civilians, which seemingly has seven obvious doctrinal problems; 2) reviews UN police functions and the problems these forces face, particularly in terms of their deployability, capabilities and training; 3) zeros in on how UN police forces deal with criminal violence in conflict situations; and 4) recommends ways that the DPKO can enhance the physical protection of both civilians and peacekeepers.