UNDSS/SOP/1/2015 SOP on the Deployment of United Nations Guard Units

Abstract

This SOP provides guidance on the process of deploying United Nations Guard Units (UNGU) to UN field missions. A UNGU is a force composed of police or military personnel, or other State security forces, deployed to protect UN personnel, premises and assets in field missions operating in non-permissive security environments. In 2014, the Secretary-General decided that, given the increasing challenge in non-permissive security environments, UNGU will be viewed as a possible security risk management option for the UN once other preferred options (such as armed security services from the host Government or an existing peacekeeping force or security entity within the UN system) have been exhausted. Besides setting the parameters of UNGU command and control, this SOP does not govern the management of UNGU once they are deployed.