International Peace Operations

Overview

Since 1989, Canada has deployed police officers to international peace missions around the world. They assist in rebuilding and strengthening police services in countries that have experienced conflict or upheaval.

By building the capacity of foreign police to maintain law and order, Canadian police, in cooperation with international partners, help create a safer and more stable environment. 

This in turn paves the way for long-term development and can also prevent illicit activities from spilling across borders into other countries, including Canada.

How It Works

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

Renewed in 2011, the CPA is designed to help Canada respond to increased demands for Canadian police participation in international missions without affecting policing at home.

The RCMP manages the deployment of Canadian police, including planning and evaluating missions, selecting and training personnel from across the country as well as providing support throughout deployment.

Canadian police who serve abroad come from municipal, provincial and regional police services as well as the RCMP, and represent a variety of backgrounds. They play a wide range of roles within each mission, from training police recruits and providing humanitarian assistance to ensuring security for elections and investigating human rights violations.

Serving on a mission can help police officers improve their leadership and problem-solving skills as well as their ability to interact effectively with people from various cultures. In the end, this also benefits their police agency and the communities they serve.

Quick Facts

• Canadian police have been involved in international peace operations since 1989.
• To date, approximately 3,000 Canadian police have served on more than 60 peace operations around the world.
• In 1995, municipal, provincial and regional police agencies began participating in missions.
• Today, nearly 150 Canadian police officers are serving in peace operations in six countries, namely Afghanistan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, the Republic of South Sudan and the West Bank. In addition, a senior police advisor is posted to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

For more information:

• Web: www.rcmp.ca/po-mp/index-eng.htm
• Email: peacekeeping@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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