EUPOL Afghanistan

EUPOL Afghanistan logo

EUPOL Afghanistan is a European Union mission to support and train police in Afghanistan, and improve the rule of law.[1]

Background

EUPOL Afghanistan is part of the European Union's External Action service. It was set up to help overcome serious policing deficiencies in Afghanistan, following recent conflicts; improving the security sector is an important part of the international community's work to rebuild Afghanistan.[2] Afghan policing was affected by serious problems of training, organisation, and corruption; they are also a major target for insurgents.

Activities

EUPOL does not do actual policing; it supports and trains Afghan police, public prosecutors, and officials from the Ministry of the Interior. They have even helped set up an Afghan police detective series, "Commissar Amanullah", which helps reach out to the public, where literacy levels are still low.[3]

EUPOL Afghanistan has also set up a police training college which offers various courses; As of September 2012 at least 4000 Afghan police have attended.[4] Responsibility for training has gradually been handed over to Afghan instructors.[5]

The mission has up to 400 experts - numbers vary - from 23 member states and four contributing states. Funding is much lower than the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Roughly two thirds are police and one third come from a legal background. The head of mission, from August 2012 to May 2013, is Karl Åke Roghe, from Sweden; Piet Deelman, from the Netherlands, was appointed deputy head in January 2013.[6]

History

EUPOL Afghanistan was launched in June 2007, following work by the German Police Project Office; Germans are still the largest contingent in EUPOL Afghanistan.[7] In May 2010, the mission's mandate was extended until May 2013, by the Council of the European Union; in November 2012 it was extended another 18 months, until Coalition troops withdraw from Afghanistan.[8]

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Less than One Year for the EUPOL Afghanistan: Again an Insufficiency". Turkish Weekly. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Policing in conflict – an overview of EUPOL Afghanistan". isis Europe. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Police detective series "Commissar Amanullah"". EUPOL Afghanistan. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "EU Police Mission in Afghanistan". EEAS. September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Afghanen steeds meer zelf verantwoordelijk voor opleiding politie". Rijksoverheid. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Nederlander krijgt hoge functie in EUPOL missie Afghanistan". Rijksoverheid. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "EUPOL Afghanistan". Auswärtiges Amt. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "EU extends Afghanistan mission to 2014". euronews. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.