The United Nations Police Division, in partnership with the African Union, recently concluded a command development course specially for female senior police officer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Over 50 participants from 26 countries took part in this course in the first week of December which aims to prepare senior female police officers to be recruited on police leadership positions by the United Nations and the African Union.
Participants were given more information about police mandates and policy in UN and AU peace operations, competency-based interviews and leadership skills required for commanding police officers from around the world.
The course is in line with the UN Secretary-General’s system-wide gender parity strategy and is part of the Police Division’s effort to recruit 20 per cent women across all levels.
As of October 2017, 10 per cent or 1,093 of the 11,300 UN police officers are women. An additional 1,000 female police officers are required to reach the target which was set in 2009. Currently, three United Nations police components (UNAMID, UNISFA and UNFICYP) are headed by police women.
In addition to contributing to gender parity efforts, the training course also aims to strengthen gender-responsive policing by the United Nations, African Union and host-State police services by increasing the number of well-trained and qualified senior female officers in command positions.
“The equal representation of women and men in police organizations at all levels is a fundamental principle of democratic policing. It enhances the legitimacy of police services and improves their professionalism by ensuring that the diverse needs and concerns of all segments of society are considered in all policing operations,” said Shaowen Yang, the Deputy Police Adviser, opening the training course. “We hope that gender perspectives will further be integrated and become part and parcel of each of police activities,” he added.
The training is part of a series of trainings for 200 female officers. The next training will take place in Malaysia, organized in partnership with ASEANAPOL and the Royal Malaysian Police, followed by trainings in Latin America and Africa.