Guidelines for Gender Sensitive Policing Presented in Montenegro

On 4 December 2012, The Guidelines for Gender Sensitive Policing with an Emphasis on Recruitment, Selection and Professional Development of Women in Police Services were presented in the Montenegro, at an event organized by the Ministry of Interior - Police Directorate of Montenegro, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Montenegro and UNDP/SEESAC.

The Guidelines, developed by the Women Police Officers Network (WPON) Working Group, were designed to outline concrete and simple steps that can help better integration of women in the police services.

The presentation was opened by Mr. Nikola Janjusevic, Assistant Director of the Police Directorate of Montenegro, Mr. Rastislav Vrbensky, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro and Ms. Irena Boskovic, Coordinator at the Department for Gender Equality of the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights.

Mr. Janjusevic stressed that the Police Directorate has been working diligently to ensure respect and use of gender equality principles in every day police practice as well as to dispel gender stereotypes that are hampering women from making a more important contribution to the work of police services, as these have traditionally been perceived as a man’s domain. ”Police and security sector reform implies diversity and equal opportunities for men and women. Without diversity and gender equality there is no efficient police service’’, Mr. Janjusevic said. Mr. Janjusevic also called for the implementation of measures proposed in the Guidelines, in order to ensure the recruitment of qualified and motivated women in the police as well as their professional development.

Mr. Vrbensky noted that The Guidelines recommend simple, low cost and very concrete measures for increased integration of women in police with the focus on attraction, recruitment, retention and professional development of women in police services. Most of these measures can be implemented with slight changes in the existing practices. UNDP Resident Representative also reminded those present that women started entering the profession in greater numbers only approximately ten years ago, and that now women represent between 3% and 7% of uniformed police officers and that few are in management positions.

Mr. Vrbensky said that data collected by the Police Services also shows that women are equally or more successful in the field of education and training for police duties than men. “Data from the region show that women are among the top students in police academies. In Montenegro, since 2006, 17 students graduated with excellent grades from the police academy, among which 10 are women’’. Mr Vrbensky noticed that this is a clear indication that women are an underused human resource that can contribute to more efficient police services. ”The realization that women were as qualified as men to perform police duties coupled with the existence of stereotypes, led the WPON to develop the Guidelines for Gender Sensitive Policing. The Guidelines represent a significant achievement of regional cooperation’’, Mr. Vrbensky concluded.

Ms. Irena Boskovic, a Coordinator at the Department for Gender Equality of the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, stated that democracy depends on gender equality principles. Strides that have been made in advancing gender equality in Montenegro in the field of legislation must be reaffirmed through their implementation and dispelling of existing gender stereotypes regarding the roles of men and women in the society. ‘’Women are facing invisible barriers in their career advancement, instead of being equal and active participants in the society,’’ said Ms. Boskovic. Finally, Ms. Boskovic underlined that the number of women working in the security sector in Montenegro should be increased, and that the recently published WPON Guidelines and their promotion during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign are examples of good practice in a way of achievement this important goal.

Ms. Ljulj Djonaj, a WPON Council member, informed the participants about the activities and results achieved by the Women Police Officers Network, a unique regional advocacy platform for information exchange and advocacy for gender equality in policing in South East Europe.

Ms. Bojana Balon, WPON Project Coordinator from UNDP/SEESAC presented the Guidelines and their recommendations, which address issues of recruitment, selection and professional development for women in police.

About WPON
The Women Police Officers Network in South Eastern Europe is a UNDP/SEESAC supported project, which aims to provide a platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge across police services in the region on the status, needs and priorities of police women in South East Europe; facilitate the advancement of the position of women in police services and gender sensitive policing practices in the region; and advocate for the implementation of gender equality and democratic principles in policing. The project is generously funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP.