IPCB

The IPCB Working Level, chaired by the Head of the IPCB Secretariat, consists of the embassy representatives (usually first secretaries or department heads) from member nations, heads of mission representatives from member organizations, and other key players engaged in international police and rule of law reform efforts. The meetings are held weekly at the Ministry of the Interior and feature regular updates on ongoing police and rule of law reform activities and programs, as well as new initiatives. The Working Level acts as an advisory body for the IPCB Board.

The role of the IPCB Secretariat is to guide, facilitate, and coordinate the activities of the IPCB and its associated bodies. It supports and influences the police reform agenda within the wider rule of law context; and manages the IPCB Police Reform Database tool. The Secretariat is supported administratively by EUPOL, and engages in close cooperation with the Afghan Ministry of Interior. The Secretariat is managed and directed by a Head of Secretariat, who reports to the IPCB and is authorized to come with, or receive, suggestions and recommendations from the Secretariat to the IPCB. In addition, the Head chairs the weekly IPCB Working Level meetings. The Secretariat consists of three main units with each one managed by a Chief Coordinator: Police Development Unit (PDU) Rule of Law (RoL) Unit Public Outreach and Reporting (POR) Unit.

Patrick de Vries briefs at the Inter-agency Rule of Law Virtual Training Conference at ISAF HQ.

Patrick J. de Vries is a diplomat seconded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After graduating from Law school at the University of Amsterdam (Masters) Patrick practiced law for about 4 years as a barrister in a private law firm defending the Netherlands Government in public law cases (liberalization of telecommunication market and asylum/refugee cases). Patrick joined the Netherlands Foreign Service in 2002, working consecutively as a policy advisor on EU matters (new EU treaty), a diplomat in the Netherlands embassy in Washington DC and a senior policy advisor on EU security and NATO matters (new NATO Strategic Concept). He assumed his position as Political Advisor to the Head of Mission of EUPOL in February 2011 and as Head of the IPCB Secretariat in November 2011. Patrick is a huge soccer fan; he played professional soccer form the age of 12 until the age of 20.