The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Police Cooperation is annually observed across the globe on 7th September to recognise and promote international cooperation between police forces around the world.
- The day highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies across borders in tackling transnational crime and ensuring global security.
7th September 2024 marks the observance of the 2nd International Day of Police Cooperation.
- The day is commemorated by the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing(IATF-P).
Theme:
i.The theme of the International Day of Police Cooperation 2024 is “Police Integrity, Accountability, and Oversight”.
ii.These 3 elements form the pillars for reinforcing the importance of the rule of law, promoting human rights-based policing, and building public trust in law enforcement.
Significance:
i.The day celebrates the vital role of the UN Police (UNPOL), contributing to peace and security worldwide, and advancing the political, development, and humanitarian objectives of the UN.
ii.The Day recognises UNPOL’s role in protecting civilians and ensuring lasting peace, particularly in countries and communities recovering from conflicts.
Background:
i.On 16th December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/77/241 and proclaimed the 7th September of every year as the International Day of Police Cooperation.
ii.The 1st International Day of Police Cooperation was observed on 7th September 2023.
iii.The resolution invited the UN to facilitate the observance of the International Day of Police Cooperation, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and other relevant organisations.
Why 7 September?
The date 7th September marks coincides with the date of establishment of INTERPOL. The International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), the predecessor of INTERPOL was established on 7th September 1923.
- The 1st observance of the day in 2023 marked the centenary celebration of INTERPOL.
UNPOL Contributions:
i.The official emergence of the UNPOL was in 1960 following the 1st deployment of the UN Police officers to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC).
ii.UNPOL supports effective, accountable policing worldwide, focusing on community-oriented, intelligence-led policing; addressing serious and organized crime.
iii.UNPOL comprises officers from 129 countries since 1990. UNPOL’s personnel decreased from 17,600 in 2010 to about 7,800 in July 2024.
- The fluctuation depends on mission start-ups, transitions, and closures.
INTERPOL and the UN:
i.INTERPOL is an intergovernmental organization that helps police forces from 196 member countries work together to make the world safe.
ii.INTERPOL has held Permanent Observer status at the UN since 1996, granted by the UNGA Resolution 51/1.
- The status was formalised in a 1997 Cooperation Agreement, solidifying their collaboration.
iii.INTERPOL and the UN focus on combatting terrorism, and human trafficking, and enforcing the UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.
iv.INTERPOL opened its Special Representative Office to the UN in New York, the United States of America (USA) in 2004.
- A subsidiary Permanent Observer Office was also opened at the UN Office in Vienna (UNOV) in Austria, in 2018.
About the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL):
Secretary General– Jürgen Stock
Headquarters– Lyon, France
Founded– 1923
