OSCE seminar in Madrid to set up police gender balance network
MADRID, 5 June 2007 - A seminar on gender balance in police management, organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit and the Spanish Chairmanship, starts today in Madrid.
The two-day event will analyze steps to be taken in setting up an OSCE Police Network for Gender (PNG).
The seminar brings together both police and civilian experts to find strategies to achieve gender balance in police upper management.
"Equal representation and participation of men and women in police forces is something we have to develop in harmony with trends in our societies. I am sure our citizens will value this, as a reflection of democratic policing. This seminar is an excellent opportunity to support OSCE participating States in improving their policies and moving towards equality," said Arturo Perez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the OSCE.
The OSCE Police Network for Gender would list police officers and managers within the 56 OSCE participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation, including a point of contact in each law enforcement and police agency. The objective of the PNG is to promote the representation of women in management positions in law enforcement and police agencies, to exchange best practices and to share information that can help facilitate the adoption and promotion of gender policies.
"A gender balance is a necessity for a high-quality police organization. In order to achieve such a balance, it is crucial to pursue and implement an active policy to have more women join the police, and to keep the ones who have already joined the organization," said Kevin Carty, Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General. "I am confident that the meeting will address those issues and bring positive recommendations."
Police experts will also identify challenges and existing good practices, and exchange institutional experiences with regard to issues faced by female police officers in their attempt to reach upper level management and decision-making positions.