The IPA is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Consultative Status (Roster) with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and enjoys Consultative Status with the Council of Europe. It is the independent federation of police officers free from discrimination of rank, s*x, race, colour, language or religion. Active or retired police officers can be members to the Association. The Association is politically, unionally and religiously neutral. The members of IPA undertake the observance of principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as they were announced by the United Nations in the year 1948. The IPA wants to encourage the members’ friendly and cultural relationships, the common knowledge, the exchange of professional experience and the mutual assistance in the social sphere. The IPA wants to contribute to a peaceful togetherness of people and therefore contribute to the world peace. The Association was formed by a police sergeant, Arthur Troop, on 1 January 1950 under the main thought in Esperanto
"Servo per Amikeco" - To serve through Friendship
In the year 1953 the idea was picked up in the Netherlands, Belgium and in France. The Sections of Germany and Switzerland were founded in 1955. Nowadays members in all over the world are more then 320'000.
