Canadian Police Arrangement – International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Program
Background
The International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations (IPP) Program gives the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Development and Public Safety the authority to deploy up to 150 Canadian police officers to peace operations and stabilization missions around the world. More than 4,000 Canadian police officers have participated in over 66 operations since 1989.
The IPP is managed by the Canadian Police Arrangement (CPA), a partnership between Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Public Safety Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Annual ongoing program funding of $46.9 million from the International Assistance Envelope is administered by GAC and the RCMP.
Police deployments to fragile and conflict-affected states include roles in capacity-building, technical assistance, training and mentorship programs for host state police, while also leveraging Canada’s expertise in community policing and countering sexual and gender-based violence. By participating in multilateral missions and initiating Canadian missions in a few countries, the IPP contributes to a safer and more secure world, which also benefits Canada’s security. Deployed Canadian police officers also enhance their ability to face complex policing challenges, and bring back these valuable experiences to their own communities.
Public Safety’s role within the CPA is to: ensure that domestic security considerations are reflected in decision making; provide advice on missions, including proposing new missions for approval; and collaborating with the RCMP and GAC to design and implement a strategic approach for the Program.
Status
As of September 5, 2019, there were 83 Canadian police officers deployed across all approved missions. The CPA continues to prioritize the deployment of female police officers, and is far exceeding the established UN target of 21% for female police officers deployed. Currently, 37 Canadian policewomen are deployed, 45% of the total.
Key CPA missions include the following:
- Haiti: Canada has maintained a presence in Haiti since 2004. Following the scaling down of the UN mission this year, CPA Ministers authorized the deployment of up to 10 police officers to the UN’s new and smaller mission in Haiti. [Redacted]
- Ukraine: Initial deployments began in 2015. The CPA deploys up to 45 officers to two missions in Ukraine to support Ukraine’s police reform efforts: bilaterally with the National Police of Ukraine; and with the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Sector Reform.
- Mali: Initial deployments began in early 2019. The CPA deploys up to 20 officers to the UN and European Union missions in Mali to support security sector reform efforts and build the capacity of the Malian police.
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- Iraq: Initial deployments began in 2016. The CPA deploys up to 20 officers to two missions in Iraq to build the capacity of Iraqi security institutions and train Iraqi police: the Global Coalition Against Daesh and the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq.
- West Bank: Begun in 2008, up to seven officers are deployed to two missions in the West Bank to build the capacity of the Palestinian Civil Police: to the Canadian Forces’ Operation PROTEUS and to the EU police mission.
Considerations
IPP missions are mostly in fragile and conflict-affected states with the risk of violence towards the deployed Canadian police. Risks are carefully assessed by the RCMP to ensure that satisfactory duty of care, training, and logistical arrangements meet security concerns and appropriate risk mitigation measures are taken.
Next Steps
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