NCJ Number
198291
Date Published
December 2000
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This report on the fourth (September 7, 2000) in a series of workshops on the role of civilian police in multinational peacekeeping and complex emergency operations focuses on the implementation of a relevant U.S. presidential directive, the issues remaining for resolution, and the restructuring of agency responsibilities that is under consideration.
Abstract
The workshop brought together representatives from the U.S. executive branch, the United Nations, civilian police organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the academic community. The two documents that were the focus of the workshop were PDD-71 (presidential decision directive) signed by President Clinton on February 24, 2000, and the Brahimi Report, which assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the existing U.N. peacekeeping system. PDD-71 ordered the Departments of State, Justice, and Defense, together with other interested agencies to "undertake a series of critical enhancements" in police training and development as part of a rule of law "tripod" that is to include judicial training and formation of effective penal institutions where peacekeeping operations occur. Both PDD-71 and the Brahimi Report recognize that crises that involve failed governments, widening conflicts, and shattered institutions within a widening number of U.N. member states has required intervention of armed forces and of civilian police to monitor post-conflict situations and organize and train local public safety forces. Currently, 3,000 civilian police (CIVPOL) have been deployed abroad, of which 900 are American. To date, the need for qualified CIVPOL personnel has been met on an ad hoc basis, with results that have been far from reassuring. The workshop noted the poor implementation of PDD-71 more than 6 months after the directive's issuance, and it recommended that the interagency group dealing with CIVPOL matters place greater reliance on the advice of a small cadre of experts and academic specialists. Appended contents of the PDD-71 and the Brahimi Report