Panama, March 26, 2024. As global security threats evolve, there is increasing recognition of the role that gender plays in shaping responses. Gender norms, roles, and inequities have direct implications for the effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of operations.
Committed to respecting human rights and diversity, the UNODC Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) through the Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP) hosted a Regional Meeting on Gender and Human Rights on March 25 and 26 2024.
Nine officers from PCBT AIRCOP Task Forces in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago participated in this workshop with the aim of developing long-term strategies that strengthen gender mainstreaming in the implementation of AIRCOP activities.
In her opening remarks, Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC ROPAN Regional Representative, emphasized that "movements for equality and gender equity are gaining momentum, challenging us to examine and rethink the structures, norms, and biases that have long influenced our societies, workplaces, and communities." She stressed the importance of understanding the intersection between gender and border security and the need to continue developing capabilities for gender-sensitive actions within the PCCP Program.
Each team provided perspectives on challenges and best practices related to gender representation and response within their work context and identified priority areas for additional actions.
During the meeting, law enforcement officers learned about the human rights and gender courses available on the UNODC eLearning platform, fostering awareness of the importance of mainstreaming gender in border security.
Additionally, the opportunity was opportune to promote interregional dialogue and partnerships to share resources, tools, and best practices on mainstreaming gender and human rights approaches in law enforcement.
"Gender equity and human rights issues help create a healthy work environment," indicated one of the migration police officers from Costa Rica.
Another participant expressed that these activities provide "positive and safe spaces that ensure the growth, development, and empowerment of women."
One officer from Ecuador valued the presence of men at the meeting, "it's great to have men at this meeting, it benefits us, women are capable of achieving everything we set out to do."
Studies indicate that gender-sensitive strategies not only respect human rights principles but can also contribute to more successful outcomes in trafficking initiatives. Despite this recognition, there are disparities in gender representation, mainstreaming, and gender-sensitive strategies in various regions.
These meetings offer a comprehensive and collaborative approach to addressing challenges related to gender representation and response in the PCBT field with the aim of strengthening border security and promoting gender equality in law enforcement.