WPON praised for its contribution to gender equality at the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association Annual Coordination Meeting

On 27 and 28 November 2012, the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) Annual Coordination Meeting was held in the Administration Center of the Republic Srpska Government in Banja Luka. Representatives of UNDP/SEESAC attended the meeting as SEPCA's partner in the implementation of the "Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe" (WPON) project. The meeting was hosted by the Director of Police of the Republic of Srpska and President of SEPCA Executive Board, Mr. Gojko Vasic.

The Banja Luka Annual Coordination Meeting gathered representatives of Police Services from BiH-Republic of Srpska, BiH-Federation, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who are SEPCA members, as well as representatives of international organizations and police agencies such as EUROPOL, INTERPOL, DCAF, EU Commission, FBI, EUCOM, MARRI, RACVIAC and UNDP/SEESAC. The meeting was organized with the aim to review SEPCA Annual Report and implementation of SEPCA supported project as well as discussion on future cooperation with SEPCA partners.

The UNDP/SEESAC project, the Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe, implemented in close cooperation with the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association, was praised for achieving results and promotion of gender equality in police services in SEE. WPON Executive Committee Chair, Ms.Sanja Sumonja reported on the implementation of activities in the last six month. In 2012 WPON finalized the Guidelines for Gender Sensitive Policing with Particular Focus on Recruitment, Selection and Professional Development of Women in Police Services. The Guidelines propose a set of simple and low cost measures, which will help police services in South East Europe attract and retain more qualified women and advance gender equality. The Guidelines were developed through a unique regional process conducted by the WPON Working Group with the support of UNDP/SEESAC and based on data provided by Ministries of Interior and police services of 8 countries in South East Europe – ensuring national ownership of the process. Ms. Sumonja thanked Police Directors for supporting the process of drafting of the Guidelines and asked for strong support in the implementation.

WPON was established under the umbrella of SEPCA with the support of UNDP/SEESAC. WPON brings together high ranking police women representing 9 police services in SEE (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Republika Srpska, Croatia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). WPON provides 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.

SEPCA was formed in January 2002 to strengthen police co-operation in South Eastern Europe (SEE), and in particular, to create partnership between the National Police Chiefs who are the active members of this Association. It operates on a strategic level, and in addressing the security challenges, risks and threats it is a serious partner to EUROPOL, INTERPOL and other international organizations.Police Services from ten countries are members of the Association: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Federation, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Director of Republic of Srpska Police, Mr Gojko Vasic, took over the presidency of the Association in September 2012.