LAHORE - THE speakers at the second National Women Police Conference emphasised on the role of woman police officers in combating violence against women through a coordinated and well planned effort.
Tehsin Anwar Shah, DG National Police Bureau, Sarmad Saeed Khan, additional IG, Finance and Welfare, Punjab Police and Dr Khola Iram, principal adviser, GIZ-Gender Responsive Policing, inaugurated the conference at a local hotel on Monday.
It will conclude today. More than 100 woman police officers from DIG rank to constable rank from all over Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the conference.
Tehsin Anwar Shah, addressing the participants, said the federal and provincial police organisations, the GRP Project and partners in developing a culture of gender-sensitive policing reforms were working hard to end gender discrimination in Pakistan.
He also thanked the Federal Foreign Office of Germany for their financial support, and GIZ for technical support.
Sarmad Saeed said that woman police officers were facing a number of issues with regard to strength, seniority, opportunities, capacity, traditional mindset, lack of will and operational priority to find ways of active engagement of women in policing functions.
The conference will also help review the existing policing practice and policy with a view to develop enhanced knowledge and skills of the existing woman police officers, Sarmad said.
He also emphasised on the need to offer more opportunities to qualified women for rapid career progression and entry into the senior level positions so that they come forward as change agents.
Dr Khola Iram said, “We started enhancing the role of women police in Pakistan to address crimes of gender-based violence against women.” It has been challenging because investigating gender-based crimes is always a difficult responsibility not just in Pakistan but anywhere in the world. It requires specialised training, confidentiality, respect for the victims of violence and close coordination among law enforcement agencies, she said. John Byrom, a criminologist and police expert of Australian Police Department, also gave presentation on domestic violence and role of police investigators in handling it.
(The News)
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