The International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Program

The International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations (IPP) Program deploys Canadian police officers from police services across Canada to United Nations peace operations and other stabilization efforts around the world. The Program is administered under the Canadian Police Arrangement (CPA) which is a partnership between Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Public Safety Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).  In March 2021, the IPP Program was renewed for five years, until 2026.

Deployed Canadian police support institutional reforms, the re-establishment of the rule of law, and the consolidation of peace among other activities. Supporting the development of professional policing services around the world creates a safer and more stable global environment. Canadian police, in cooperation with international partners such as the United Nations and the European Union, or bilaterally with a host country, pave the way for this long-term development.

More than 4,000 Canadian police officers have participated in 66 international peace and stabilization missions since 1989.

Helping overseas and helping at home

International policing efforts are an essential part of Canada’s goal of building a more secure world by working to stabilize fragile and conflict-affected states. The international deployment of highly-trained Canadian police officers contributes to reducing crime, instability, and fragility in countries where they are engaged.

Through the IPP, Canadian police officers are currently deployed to Haiti, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and the West Bank, as well as to the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Switzerland, the International Criminal Court in The Netherlands, and a Senior Police Advisor to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Learn more about current operations. Learn about how GAC’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program supports conflict prevention, dialogue, mediation, stabilization, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.

Canada recently started deploying police to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to form a specialized police team on sexual and gender-based violence. The IPP continues to explore opportunities to contribute to other UN missions.

Deployed police officers also improve domestic security in Canada by gaining experience in leadership and mentoring roles, as well as greater cultural awareness. When they return to Canada, their experience can help strengthen relationships in their home communities.

Canada’s police peacekeepers are all volunteers and, for multilateral missions, are selected for service through international competitions. The IPP draws on officers from the RCMP and more than 30 other provincial, regional, municipal and First Nation police services across the country.

Past deployments since 2012 include: Afghanistan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, Côte d'Ivoire, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Date modified:

2021-06-08