A UN peacekeeping course focused on policing in the Pacific has begun in Pinkenba, with officers from various regional countries participating.
Background to the Pacific Initiative
In Pinkenba, a first-of-its-kind UN police training course for the Pacific region is now underway. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is hosting the five-week program at the Pacific Policing Development and Coordination Hub. It was developed in collaboration with the United Nations following calls by Pacific Island Chiefs of Police in 2024 to expand regional involvement in peacekeeping.
Photo Credit: AFP
Structure and Scope of the Training
A total of 100 police personnel from Timor-Leste and ten Pacific Island nations are enrolled in the program. These countries include Samoa, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Timor-Leste. The training is designed to lay the foundation for a Pacific-led, deployable peacekeeping force capable of contributing to UN missions.
Photo Credit: AFP
Training modules combine classroom-based instruction and practical exercises. Topics covered include driving safety, child protection, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. The course is being delivered by trainers from countries such as Türkiye, Jordan, Fiji, Uganda, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, and Argentina, alongside the AFP, Fiji Police Force, and Australian Defence Force.
Supporting a Broader Regional Strategy
The course forms part of the Pacific Policing Initiative—an effort led by the region with support from Australia to improve policing collaboration across Pacific nations. The Pinkenba hub, purpose-built for this purpose, includes accommodation for participants and is intended to support ongoing training and coordination efforts.
Photo Credit: AFP
The initiative is viewed by the AFP as a step towards reinforcing Australia’s role in regional peace and security, while also advancing Pacific nations’ ambitions to contribute more actively to global peacekeeping.
Global and Regional Recognition
The course is expected to conclude with a formal assessment and closing ceremony attended by international dignitaries, including the UN Police Adviser. The program highlights how collaboration between Australia, the United Nations, and Pacific nations can deliver long-term peacekeeping capabilities and increase regional representation in international missions.
Published 20-May-2025
