Intervention made by H.E. Mohan Pieris,  Permanent Representative to the United Nations

at the UNCOPS 2022

It is indeed a pleasure to address this august gathering of United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit popularly known as UNCOPS 2022 at a period when the world is experiencing  multiple challenges particularly in areas of national security. I take this opportunity to commend the organizers of this Summit for their efforts in bringing this high level galaxy of security personnel of high competency together in this summit with a view to drawing on their experience and resources on how to make our world a safer place to live in.

The underlying objective of this summit, clearly the strengthening of international peace, security and development for all through the unifying power and enabling role of national and international policing cannot be but a more timely initiative towards establishing  a common platform of understanding among present and potential police security initiatives and financial contributors who share a common vision for a peaceful world. I strongly believe that this forum will be a catalyst to achieving the requirements of diverse and complex mandated tasks required of the UN Police.

My own country, Sri Lanka, has had the privilege of being blessed with a highly trained police service schooled in the common law  traditions for over 150 years and  has contributed in a substantial measure towards maintaining law and order  at a  domestic level and in more recent times at an international level in keeping with the norms and standards required by the United Nations inclusive of providing security for civilians, the prevention of  crime in conflict zones and the maintenance of peace in such areas. I might recall the initial deployment in Mozambique in 1994 where a contingent of eleven police officers formed part of a successful UN Mission followed by contingents to East Timor, Sierra Leon, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Liberia, Haiti , South Sudan and Dafur. Their services were commended at the highest level. I can safely give the assurance that our Police personnel  are competent and ready to be deployed at short notice in any part of the world as partners of a UN initiative in the maintenance of global peace.

Looking to the future, we believe that the anticipated outcomes of this summit  which includes, inter alia, operationalizing the UN Police Division’s role as a system-wide service provider and focal point for United Nations Policing and other law enforcement matters such as strengthening capacities ,integrating UN policing priorities in international peace, security processes and discussions, would be a high point in setting up the standards of the law enforcement agencies in its response to contemporary and contemplated challenges.

We are confident that the collective efforts and contributions of the world’s police executives and United Nations leadership would steward this summit towards its right direction, especially in the subjects related to addressing current and emerging global security challenges, including man-made and natural crises and events in keeping with our common agenda of building back better so that no one is left behind. We will and must provide protection to the least of them all. We owe it to them.

I thank you once again on behalf of the global community and wish you every success in this   very important  endeavor which assures to each one of us as members of the human family a peaceful existence in our earthy sojourn.

Thank you.