By Anthony Kujawa
Washington File staff writer

Washington -- Ranging in function from disarmament to protecting human rights, United Nations peace operations yielded major dividends for a number of countries in 2002, according to the report "Year in Review: U.N. Peace Operations 2002" released by the U.N. Department for Public Information December 31.

The report highlights the achievements and progress of U.N. Peacekeeping Operations in regions throughout the world. Noted accomplishments include: the establishment of the Interim Authority and the Transitional Administration in Afghanistan; the U.N. Transitional Administration in East Timor conducting presidential elections and facilitating the transition to East Timor's formal independence on May 20; and the completion of the U.N. Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH).

UNMIBH was described as "most extensive police reform and restructuring operation ever undertaken by the U.N."

Other accomplishments mentioned were U.N. support for the disarmament and demobilization of former combatants in Sierra Leone, which led towards increased security, the dissolution of the armed rebel movement and violence-free national elections. Although highlighting progress, the report also discussed challenges facing Sierra Leone in creating a police force capable protecting the country's borders and providing opportunities for unemployed youth and nearly 24,000 ex-combatants.

According to the report, the U.N. maintained 15 peacekeeping operations and 13 political and peace-building missions in 2002. Ninety U.N. Member States contributed uniformed personnel to operations, which ranged in size from a handful of international and local staff to thousands of military, police and civilian peacekeepers.

The major U.S. contribution in personnel to U.N. Peace Operations in 2002 ranged from 611 to 741 Civilian Police (CIVPOL) during the year, and also included about 30 Military Observers. The U.S. ranked 18th of the 90 nations contributing military and civilian police to U.N. operations, as of November 2002. Most of the U.S. CIVPOL served as part of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), while 80 served at the U.N. mission in East Timor.

In addition to law enforcement functions, the UNMIK Police also provided training and guidance to create the Kosovo Police Service, which has already trained over 5,000 officers from all ethnic groups in Kosovo.

In 1994, only 50 U.S. police participated in U.N. CIVPOL missions. According to a U.S. Department of State fact sheet released September 2002, the "dramatic climb in U.S. participation in CIVPOL reflects the U.S. government's recognition of its [CIVPOL's] importance to peacekeeping missions in the post-cold war world."

"CIVPOL not only can assist international military forces in the short term by addressing civilian law enforcement matters, but also help to develop the local, democratic policing institutions that ultimately will be responsible for all law and order functions once the military and CIVPOL depart," stated the fact sheet.

It also notes that under U.S. Presidential Decision Directive 71 on Strengthening Criminal Justice Systems in Support of Peace Operations and other Complex Contingencies, signed in February 2000, the United States has developed a "ready roster" of 500 to 2,000 trained and pre-screened police eligible for rapid deployment.

For more information on achievements of U.N. Peace Operations in 2002, see the full report.