The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is dedicated to assisting the Member States of the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain international peace and security.

DPKO provides political and executive direction to United Nations Peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of United Nations, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPKO also provides guidance and support on military, police, mine action, justice and corrections and other relevant issues to other United Nations political and peacebuilding missions through specialised components in its field missions, such as police, justice and corrections.

The Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) was established in 2007 to strengthen the links and coordinate DPKO's activities in the areas of police, justice and corrections, mine action, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants and security sector reform.

The Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Service (CLJAS) is a part of OROLSI and supports DPKO justice and corrections components in approximately 14 peacekeeping and special political field missions to assist national authorities to:

• Re-establish courts, prosecution and defence facilities in post-conflict environments

• Draft and implement legislation and judicial processes to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed during conflict, including war crimes and crimes against humanity

• Establish or restore independent and non-corrupt judicial organs

• Establish or restore legal aid and defence frameworks for defendants in criminal proceedings

• Establish or restore secure prison facilities that comply with international standards.

DPKO leads this justice and corrections work through approximately 330 authorised justice personnel and approximately 400 authorised corrections personnel in the field.

CLJAS also provides training and guidance to justice and corrections personnel working in the field and national counterparts working in the justice and corrections sectors.

The Police Division supports United Nations police components in 17 peacekeeping and special political field missions. Contingent on their mandates, these United Nations police components assist national authorities in the following areas:

•  Reform, restructuring and rebuilding of the host-State police
• Operational support to host-State police
• Protection of civilians
• Promotion and protection of human rights.

DPKO leads this policing work with approximately 16,700 authorized United Nations police officers.