Peacekeeping is one of the most effective tools available to the United Nations to assist host countries to navigate the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace. More than 120,000 United Nations peacekeepers currently provide security, political and peacebuilding support to help countries lay the foundation for sustainable peace.
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Department of Field Support(DFS) are responsible for the establishment and management of United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, and they also provide support to a number of United Nations special political missions. DPKO leads in strengthening judicial and corrections institutions and guiding security sector reform in countries with peacekeeping operations.
The Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) (A/RES/61/279) supports rule of law components in United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions as they work with national authorities to protect civilians, extend State authority, re-establish law and order and stabilize conflict and post-conflict situations. OROLSI provides expertise and integrated guidance in the key areas of police, justice, corrections, security sector reform, mine action and the reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life.
- The Police Division (PD) The Police Division supports the deployment of more than 13,000 United Nations Police officers serving in peace operations. The mission of the United Nations Police is to enhance international peace and security by supporting Member States in conflict, post-conflict and other crisis situations to realize the ideal of an effective, efficient, representative, responsive and accountable police service of the highest professional standard possible.
- The Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Service (CLJAS) supports justice and corrections components in United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions to restore and stabilize justice and corrections systems affected by conflict. Justice and Corrections experts provide support to national authorities to re-establish the basic functioning of the criminal justice chain, including courts and prisons, and to develop national justice strategies.
- The Security Sector Reform Unit (SSRU) is the focal point and technical resource capacity on security sector reform for the United Nations system, as well as national and international partners. The SSR Unit provides the secretariat for the United Nations Inter-agency SSR Task Force, which is co-chaired by DPKO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
