International Peace Operations Branch

FEATURE

Canadian Civilian Policing Efforts in Afghanistan

QUICK FACTS

• Canada has been involved in international peace operations since deploying 100 RCMP members to Namibia in 1989. • To date, approximately 2,300 Canadian police officers have been deployed around the world. • Canadian police personnel from other provincial, regional and municipal forces began participating in international missions in 1995. • Today, policing partners account for 60 per cent of all international police deployments.

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• Mandate

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• Fact sheet - PDF (93KB)

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Overview

The RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch (IPOB) deploys Canadian police personnel to failed and fragile states and countries around the world that have or are presently experiencing conflict. These individuals provide training and police-related expertise which in turn helps promote international peace and security and increases social stability.

Deploying Canadian police internationally also pro-actively addresses complex security issues at their source and directly contributes to the maintenance of safe Canadian homes and communities.

How it works

Foreign requests for Canadian police come from multilateral organizations such as the United Nations or bilaterally from specific countries. The decision to deploy Canadian police is made within the framework of the Canadian Police Arrangement (CPA), a partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Public Safety and the Canadian International Development Agency.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, IPOB manages the deployment of Canadian police, including the selection of candidates, pre-deployment training, and ongoing medical, psychological and logistical support. All deployments are on a voluntary basis.

Partnerships

The demand for Canadian police participation and the complexity of their role on international peace operations has increased significantly. The participation of approximately 30 Canadian police services has enhanced Canada’s ability to provide leadership within these challenging international environments.

Typical work performed by police peacekeepers:

• Executive policing;
  • all levels of policing with original jurisdiction;
    
    
• Security Sector Reform
  • training, reforming, professionalizing and democratizing police organizations
  • institutional capacity building;
    
    
• Humanitarian Assistance
  • assisting with food/medical aid
  • natural disaster assistance;
    
    
• Support to Electoral Process
  • encouraging a neutral political environment free from intimidation during an electoral process;
    
    
• Human Rights
  • monitoring and investigation of human rights violations;
  • overseeing the security and human rights of returned refugees and displaced persons;