The Police Division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peace Operations, together with the African Union, European Union and INTERPOL organized a webinar on the “Future of International Policing: Increasing Effectiveness and Impact through Global Partnerships”, which included Senior Fellow (Non-Resident) Charles Hunt.
COVID-19 has brought the essence of international policing into greater focus. International policewomen and men are among the most visible representatives of the African Union, European Union, INTERPOL and the United Nations in the countries where they are deployed. As first responders, they continue to support host-State authorities to maintain law and order, protect civilians, and engage with local populations through patrolling and community-oriented policing amid the new normal of the pandemic by adapting and innovating.
This webinar provided a platform to discuss how to further increase the effectiveness and overall impact of international policing through an exchange of experiences and ideas with leading practitioners. It considered the implications of COVID-19, which has exacerbated existing security, political and socioeconomic schisms, as well as new trends and innovations improving the implementation of mandated tasks and, importantly, facilitating greater safety and security for those communities most in need. The event provided an opportunity to lay out a road map of opportunities to enhance collaboration on peace and security between the African Union, European Union, INTERPOL and the United Nations drawing on their unique capabilities and comparative strengths.