By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 28, 2024 — The Royal Bahamas Police Force posted a collection of photos on Facebook yesterday that I absolutely have to share with readers of my Washington, D.C. – based online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean
The photos were posted with the following narrative:
“Commissioner Clayton Fernander CD, QPM, and members of the Royal Bahamas Force, participated in a bilateral meeting with Head of Delegation Associate Professor, Dr. Mustafa CALISKAN (Deputy Director General of Turkish National Police) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, while attending the United Nations Chief of Police Summit 2024 (UNCOPS)”.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The fourth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2024) brought together Ministers, Chiefs of Police and senior representatives of regional and professional policing organizations to United Nations Headquarters, from 26 to 27 June, to engage on strengthening international peace, security, and development for all through the unifying power and enabling role of national and United Nations policing.
In particular, discussions focused on identifying approaches and practices to:
- operationalize the United Nations Police Division’s role as a system-wide service provider and focal point for United Nations policing and other law enforcement matters;
- reinforce ongoing efforts to enhance the performance of United Nations Police by strengthening capacities, including the launch of the Voluntary Compact on Advancing Gender Parity within the United Nations Police; and
- integrate United Nations policing priorities in international peace and security processes, discussions and fora.
UNCOPS 2024 also offered a unique opportunity for the world’s police executives and United Nations leadership to engage in discussions on how United Nations policing and national policing mutually reinforce one another when addressing current and emerging global security challenges, including man-made and natural crises and incidents.
Police leaders came away with a greater understanding of how the skills, knowledge and experience acquired by their national officers returning from United Nations service benefit their own policing services and populations.
Member States had an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to strengthening the United Nations Police through concrete pledges of support.
