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Three Workshops on Gender Equality in Security Sector Held in Belgrade

A total of sixty-six women police officers attended three gender awareness seminars, which UNDP/SEESAC and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MoI) jointly organized in the framework of the Women Police Officers Network in South East Europ

A total of sixty-six women police officers attended three gender awareness seminars, which UNDP/SEESAC and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MoI) jointly organized in the framework of the Women Police Officers Network in South East Europ

The two-day workshops entitled Gender Equality in Security Sector were held during the months of June and July 2012 and were designed to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality as well as to enable networking and relevant information excha

The two-day workshops entitled Gender Equality in Security Sector were held during the months of June and July 2012 and were designed to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality as well as to enable networking and relevant information excha

For most participants, this was the first course on gender equality they had the opportunity to attend. During the discussion the participants worked in groups.

For most participants, this was the first course on gender equality they had the opportunity to attend. During the discussion the participants worked in groups.

Presentation of working groups\' discussions

Presentation of working groups\' discussions

Presentation of working groups' discussions

Presentation of working groups' discussions

A total of sixty-six women police officers attended three gender awareness seminars, which UNDP/SEESAC and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MoI) jointly organized within the framework of the Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe (WPON). The two-day workshops entitled "Gender Equality in Security Sector" were held during the months of June and July 2012 and were designed to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality as well as to enable networking and relevant information exchange among the MoI staff.

Participants from various MoI units, including regional police directorates, learned about the position of women in the security sector, gender based discrimination, existing strategies and mechanisms for achieving gender equality in Serbia, and concrete techniques for women's empowerment. The workshops also provided interactive sessions during which female representatives of the MoI discussed personally encountered obstacles in carrier advancement.

For most participants, this was the first course on gender equality they had the opportunity to attend. They expressed great interest in the topic and suggested that gender awareness trainings be organized for a large number of their male colleagues. The workshop also inspired many of the participants to become involved in the work of WPON, particularly in the implementation of "Guidelines for Gender Sensitive Policing Practice." The Guidelines were recently developed by WPON and they provide a set of low cost measures that police services can easily implement and which will enable better recruitment, selection and professional development of police women.

About WPON

The Women Police Officers Network in South Eastern Europe (WPON) 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.

 

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