Swede woman appointed head of UN Police

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has today announced the appointment of Ann-Marie Orler as the new United Nations Police Adviser. This is the first time a women officer becomes head of highest ranking police position in the UN system.

"The number of police officers deployed in UN missions has risen dramatically from around 1 000 in 1995 to, at present, approximately 16 000 from some one hundred different countries. I warmly welcome Ann-Marie Orler's appointment to this important position of responsibility," comments Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.

"UN police work involves strengthening justice so as to enhance people's confidence in the justice system, which in turn prevents wars and unrest. I am very pleased that this important task has been assigned to a Swede," says Swedish Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask.

Ann-Marie Orler has served as UN Deputy Police Adviser since 2008. In her role as Deputy Police Adviser, Ann-Marie Orler has worked intensively to recruit police officers to various UN missions and in particular to increase the number of women police officers. Police officers have been deployed in UN missions since 1960.

- Asian Tribune -