2nd International Day of Police Cooperation

The United Nations (UN)’S International Police Cooperation Day is observed annually all over the world on September 7th to recognize and promote international cooperation between police services around the world.

• This day highlights the importance of law enforcement cooperation across borders in combating transnational crime and ensuring global security.

September 7, 2024 marks the observance of the 2nd International Police Cooperation Day.

• This day is commemorated by the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing (IATF-P).

Theme:

i.The theme of the International Day of Police Cooperation 2024 is “Police integrity, accountability and oversight”.

I.These three elements form the pillars for strengthening the importance of the rule of law, promoting human rights-based policing and building public trust in law enforcement.

Meaning:

i.This day celebrates the crucial role of the UN police (UNPOL), contributes to peace and security worldwide and promotes the political, development and humanitarian objectives of the UN.

I.This day recognizes UNPOL’s role in protecting civilians and ensuring lasting peace, particularly in countries and communities recovering from conflict.

Background:

i.On December 16th 2022the United Nations General Assembly (UN General Assembly) adopted resolution A/RES/77/241 and called on the September 7th of each year as the International Police Cooperation Day.

I.The 1st The International Day of Police Cooperation was celebrated on September 7, 2023.

iii.The resolution invited the UN to facilitate the celebration of the International Day of Police Cooperation, in cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and other relevant organizations.

Why September 7th?

The date of September 7 coincides with the date of the foundation of INTERPOL. The International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), the predecessor of INTERPOL, was founded on September 7, 1923.

• The first celebration of the day in 2023 marked the hundredth anniversary celebration of INTERPOL.

Contributions from UNPOL:

i.The official establishment of UNPOL took place in 1960, following the first deployment of UN police officers to the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC).

I.UNPOL supports effective and accountable policing worldwide, with a focus on community-based, intelligence-led policing, tackling serious and organised crime.

iii.Since 1990, UNPOL has consisted of officials from 129 countries. UNPOL’s staff has declined from 17,600 in 2010 to approximately 7,800 in July 2024.

• The fluctuations depend on the start, transition and closing of missions.

INTERPOL and the UN:

i.INTERPOL is an intergovernmental organisation that helps police forces from 196 member states work together to make the world a safer place.

I.INTERPOL has held Permanent Observer status at the UN since 1996, granted by UN General Assembly Resolution 51/1.

• The status was formally established in a cooperation agreement in 1997, which strengthened the collaboration.

iii.INTERPOL and the UN focus on combating terrorism and human trafficking and enforcing UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.

I.INTERPOL opened its Special Mission to the UN in New York, United States of America (USA) in 2004.

• In 2018, a Permanent Observer Office was also opened at the UN Office in Vienna (UNOV) in Austria.

About the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL):
Secretary General– Jürgen Stock
Headquarters– Lyon, France
Set up– 1923