Support for Gender Mainstreaming in Policing Practice
The Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe (WPON)
Following the initial steps taken by the Southeast Europe Police Chief Association (SEPCA) to establish a Women Police Officers Network (WPON) in SEE, SEESAC developed the project “Support for Gender Mainstreaming in Policing Practice in South East Europe”, implementation of which began in June 2010. The aim of this project is to assist in the setting-up of the network by providing support and expertise to the WPON in the initial phases of the inception as well as support for long-term institutionalization. The project supports the creation of basic statutes governing management and membership structures as well as specific efforts to address the recruitment, promotion, retention and career building of women police officers in the region. It is envisioned that the WPON will also come to serve as an advisory body to the region’s police services on matters related to gender and policing. The project supports the development of relevant gender policy and guidelines based on best-practice experiences, including from other existing regional networks for women police officers.
In the initial period (2010-2012) the WPON is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
About WPON
The Women Police Officers Network (WPON) in South East Europe was established on 26th November 2010 under the umbrella of the South East Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, by representatives of 9 police services in SEE: Albania, BiH-Federation, BiH-Republika Srpska, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Vision
National women police personnel associations collaborating through WPON to improve the status of women in police services and ensure security for women in the region.
Mission
- 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;
- To facilitate the advancement of the position of women in police services and gender sensitive policing practices in SEPCA police services. The WPON advises SEPCA member services on gender equality in police services and best police practice; including on the implementation of relevant international documents – the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
- To advocate for the implementation of gender equality and democratic principles in policing within SEPCA police services.
WPON Activities:
- Networking and the exchange of information
- Organization of annual conference of the WPON Council;
- Capacity building for members of the WPON on gender equality and gender sensitive policing and transfer of knowledge within SEPCA members;
- Organization and facilitation of thematic events;
- Exchange of information among SEPCA members and with relevant institutions, on the position of women in police services and gender issues related to policing practice;
- Data gathering and research on position of women in police services;
- Encouraging and supporting the development of national level networks/networking.
- Professional development
- Provision of information on professional development opportunities, both on training and international positions;
- Exchange of information on scholarships and different types of additional education.
- Advocacy
- Promotion of WPON and its vision and mission within Police Services and the wider community;
- Provide recommendations to SEPCA police services on best practices related to gender mainstreaming;
- Advocacy for gender sensitive police education;
- Liaision with international, regional and national organizations and agencies concerned with the advancement of gender equality;
- Provision of advice to SEPCA member police services on issues of relevance for the position of women in police services and gender equality.
- Public relations
- Promote and disseminate info on the WPON's mission.
- Leverage existing public relation initiatives to promote the WPON's mission.
Contact Details:
WPON Secretariat
UNDP/SEESAC
Hadzi Melentijeva 30
11000 Belgrade Serbia
+381 11 344 6353 (phone)
+381 11 344 6356 (fax)
