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UNMISS police foster gender-responsive policing and support

Fostering gender-responsive policing is a key priority for the United Nations Police (UNPOL) and central to the advancement of the Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative.

Supported by the UN Development Programme and the Sudanese Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, police with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UN Women organized a series of workshops.

The goal is to strengthen women's networks among the national police, prison personnel, and military, as well as their capacities to advocate for gender parity in leadership and governance roles.

The initiative addresses challenges unique to women in law enforcement and promotes the security sector as an attractive, viable career path for women and girls. 

A similar workshop was organized by the Field Office in Eastern Equatoria State in partnership with the Gender Unit and supported by the State Legislative Assembly.

Participants discussed good governance strategies as well as the challenges faced by women leaders.

About 35 women (mainly from the State House of Assembly) and five male gender champions, including the Chief Whip of the Assembly, participated.

The impact of such initiatives is significant in the current political and social context of Sudan. As of today, the benchmarks necessary for the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement to be fully implemented remain delayed. With little time remaining to complete the current transitional period and to hold free, fair, and credible elections, existing peace processes need to be reinvigorated.

In this regard, the full and equal participation of women in the nation's political life is essential to ensure lasting peace.

United Nations police officers work closely with the national police to build the capacity of the host-State police and mainstream gender-responsive policing, tailored to national and local needs.

The United Nations Police Division further enables a standardized approach to gender mainstream­ing by integrating best practices and standards into the police-specific United Nations policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures it develops, including the Strategic Guidance Framework for International Policing.

For more information, visit UNPOL Gender Initiatievs page.