3-6 March 2020

IOM Georgia hosted the 9th Annual Regional Women in Policing Conference in the capital Tbilisi. Every year, since 2012, the event is organized with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi and in close cooperation with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The Women in Policing Conference takes place in the beginning of March each year to celebrate the International Women’s Day. The main aim of the Conference is to empower, inspire and educate female criminal justice professionals to succeed.

This year the conference brought together up to 260 female police officers from 11 countries of South Eastern, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss the advancement of career opportunities for women in police and other law enforcement structures and gives unique insights into available options to expand the participation of women not only in day-to-day police issues, but also to secure their participation in decision-making processes at the policy-making level. According to the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan “the role of women in peace and security and the skills they bring to the law enforcement profession are enshrined in the UN Resolution 1325. With this resolution, the world acknowledged that peace and security efforts are more sustainable, when women are equal partners in preventing violent conflict, delivering relief and recovery and forging lasting peace. It is crucial, that women are stakeholders and custodians in managing and maintaining peace.” The conference participants were also welcomed by Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, who spoke about gender equality and implementation of the relevant policy as a priority for the Government.

From 3 – 6 March 2020 female criminal justice professionals will participate in dynamic workshops led by top law enforcement officers from the United States and Canada. The topics of the workshops range from judgmental use of force to leadership in troubled times. At the opening of the Conference Dyane Epstein, IOM Regional Director a.i. for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia spoke about the importance of women’s equal participation for ensuring stability, preventing conflict and promoting sustainable and inclusive development: “Gender equality is a prerequisite for a better world. The series of annual conferences have provided excellent platform for bringing together female police officers of various backgrounds. They have created a professional network, that aims to achieve gender-based approach to security, safety, justice and public awareness - a network, that supports women.”

In the picture: Ms. Dyane EPSTEIN, Regional Director a.i. for South Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, IOM; Ms. Livia Styp-Rekowska, Senior Regional Immigration and Border Management Specialist, IOM; Ms. Sanja Celebic Lukovac, Chief of Mission, IOM Georgia