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United Nations Assisting NationalPrison Services in Post-conflict CountriesState conflicts to intra-State conflicts and civil wars. As aresult, the number of United Nations peacekeeping personnelhas greatly increased. Today, the United Nationshas 140,000 authorized personnel, of which 110,000 arecurrently deployed in 17 peacekeeping operations on fivecontinents, across 12 time zones. In comparison, only30,000 personnel were deployed just10 years ago.Beyond MilitaryMembers of a Pakistani Formed Police Unit (FPU) participatingin tactics and logistics exercises with UN Police in Timor-Leste.UN Photo / Martine PerretModern PeacekeepingUnited Nations peacekeeping is a unique and dynamicinstrument developed as a way to help countries torn byconflict to create the conditions for lasting peace. Themethods used when assisting war-torn countries to createlasting peace have changed in terms of both scopeand composition. Traditionally, international personnelserving in United Nations missions have consisted mainlyof military observers and lightly armed troops, deployedto monitor and report on the implementation of peaceagreements or cease fires. However, since the end ofthe Cold War, United Nations peacekeeping operationshave shifted from being traditional military style operations,to multidimensional and integrated operationsworking to ensure the implementation of complex peaceagreements.The nature of the conflicts around the world to whichthe United Nations responds has also shifted, from inter-While the military components stillremain the backbone of many peacekeepingoperations, the need forinternational expertise in post-conflictcountries has been widely recognizedin terms of police officers (as seen inthe increase in the numbers of policeofficers deployed to peacekeepingmissions from 2,400 in 1999 to over12,000 in 2009). Other rule of law andjustice sector components need to beincluded to the same extent in peacekeepingoperations.When the number of police officers working inpeacekeeping operations is enhanced, the numbers ofcriminal cases leading to arrests inevitably multiply. Asa result, the number of persons arrested, detained andimprisoned also increases. Without a readily availablepresence of rule of law actors such as prosecutors,judges, lawyers and correctional staff to deal with thesedetainees, prisons often become overcrowded, with pretrialdetainees forming the bulk of the number of prisoninmates. Deteriorating prison conditions in turn lead toescapes, riots and other disturbances having an impactnot only on the prisons, but also on the larger securitysituation in the post-conflict country.4DPKO | CORRECTIONS UPDATE | OCTOBER 2009
In states where ethnic, political or other conflictshave taken place, prisons will operate in a sometimesbrutal manner. Strengthening only the police within asystem lacking effective, humane and secure prisonsand detention centres raises serious human rights,security and legal concerns. It is therefore importantthat peacekeeping operations always include a holisticapproach to rule of law, by including corrections andjustice components together with police components.Otherwise, threats to peace and stability may arisewhich could have been prevented. In fact, the benefitsof greater effectiveness in law enforcement may,if not accompanied by a correspondingly enhancedcapacity within justice and corrections institutions, bediminished.The Brahimi ReportThe Brahimi Report (a comprehensive review of peacekeepingundertaken by an international panel under thechairmanship of Lakhdar Brahimi published in 2000) onUnited Nations peacekeeping operations recognizedthe need for integrated rule of law efforts in complexpeace operations, involving support to justice, corrections,and human rights as well as the more traditionalpolice issues. In paragraph 47, in its summary of keyrecommendations, it says: “the panel recommends adoctrinal shift in the use of civilian police, other rule oflaw elements and humanrights experts in complex“Today, the Unitedpeace operations to reflectan increased focus on Nations has 140,000strengthening rule of law authorized personnel,institutions and improving of which 110,000 arerespect for human rights currently deployedin post-conflict environments”.The Office of operations, on fivein 17 peacekeepingRule of Law and SecurityInstitutions (OROLSI) 12 time zones. Incontinents, acrossand the Criminal Law and comparison, onlyJudicial Advisory Service30,000 personnel(CLJAS) were created, inwere deployed justpart, to help respond to10 years ago.”this recommendation.Expanded role of Peacekeepers:Chilean and Brazilian UN peacekeeperengineers construct a new roadin Port-au-Prince, Haiti.UN Photo / Logan AbassiSUSTAINABLE PEACE THROUGH JUSTICE AND SECURITY 5
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