OSCE Mission to Montenegro facilitates first meeting between police women from Montenegro and Serbia
As a concrete outcome of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s campaign on more women in policing, the first meeting of the Women Police Association from Montenegro and the Network of Women in Police from Serbia was organized in Podgorica on 14 October 2021, supported by the Mission and the Swedish Police Regional Project Office in Belgrade.
This meeting was designed to enhance networking and mutual co-operation of women in police at the regional level, and to exchange good practices in police women empowerment in the two countries.
Opening the meeting, Dragica Vučinić, Mission’s National Security Co-operation Officer, said that increased participation of women in police contributes to enhanced public confidence in police work. “The Mission continues to support implementation of gender agenda in the police,” said Vučinić
Biljana Dulović, President of Montenegrin Women Police Association, thanked the network from Serbia for initiating the meeting. “This is an important step in strengthening regional co-operation of women police officers from Serbia and Montenegro and their professional empowerment for efficient work in police,” said Dulović.
Tatjana Vetro, President of the Serbian Network of Women in Police presented goals and tasks of the organization, highlighting the importance of women empowerment to improve their position in police and focus on career development. “We believe that women in police can respond to all challenges equally well as a man. We continue to advocate for gender equality and to fight stereotypes,” said Vetro.
Tatjana Vasić, gender consultant within the Swedish police assistance programme to the Serbian Ministry of Interior, said that the meeting was an example of good practice in the area of women empowerment and supporting women in performing police jobs. “This model of networking is inspiring and increases motivation for different types of co-operation and mutual support in police women empowerment,” said Vasić.
The meeting concluded that the two organizations would start sharing information on activities of joint interest to enable bilateral participation and exchange of good practices. Participants agreed to organize the next working meeting with other relevant women police associations from the Western Balkans.