Getting Involved

“We are redoubling our efforts to consolidate peace for those who continue to suffer in the shadow of violence and insecurity and we honour the brave men and women who contribute to serve the noble cause of peace in the most difficult of conditions.”

Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations
UN Police Magazine July 2009

The UN Needs You

The UN needs more police officers for its missions. The demand for UN Police continues to increase, even though a greater number are deployed than ever before. If you would like to become a UN Police Officer, please contact your national authorities to find out how you can help bring peace through justice and security to troubled areas around the globe. We need your help.

A woman looking at a UN Police recruitement board.Jarlu Gbessie examines a recruitment drive for female police officers in the Liberian National Police. She says she wants to protect life and property and to learn medicine. The UN and the Liberian government are striving for 20 percent female enrolment and are using educational incentives to try and achieve this goal. Photo UNMIL/Christopher Herwig

Career Benefits

Contributing police officers to United Nations missions enhances the professionalism of police services through exposure to standards of excellence in international policing and specialized training to strengthen police peacekeeping skills, according to many senior members of the international policing community. Police Contributing Countries see clear benefits for their local communities when their police officers return from UN missions.

More Female Police Officers

A top priority for UN Police is to increase the number of female police officers in peacekeeping operations and encourage the recruitment of women in domestic police services. Only eight percent of UN Police Officers are female, an increase from six percent in 2006, but still a marked imbalance. In August 2009 the UN launched a world-wide drive to recruit more women into its ranks.

United Nations Minimum Recruitment Requirements

Age

  • 25-62 years;
  • Preference under 55 years.

Number of years of professional experience

  • Five (5) years excluding training;
  • Retired personnel can be deployed if retired within the past 5 years.

Language proficiency

  • Mandatory language test (reading, listening, report writing and oral interview);
  • Language of Operation, French and English;
  • Passing score 60 % or above.

Driving skills proficiency

  • One (1) year of recent driving experience;
  • In possession of a valid national driving license for at least one year;
  • Two mandatory driving tests one by Selection and Assistance Team and one in the respective peacekeeping mission where deployed.

Use of firearms proficiency

  • Mandatory firearms test.

Computer skills

  • Basic computer knowledge

Desirable complementary skills

  • Previous experience in a UN mission;
  • Proficiency in map reading, land navigation, use of global positioning systems;
  • Knowledge of basic negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution;
  • Interviewing techniques;
  • Basic first aid.