Police women in Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and Prospects

Conference on role of women in police held on 3-4 March 2015 in Bishkek marked the 5th anniversary of the Police Women Association of Kyrgyzstan.

Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Melis Turgunbaev, Ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, members of the Kyrgyz parliament, representatives of the international organizations and diplomatic missions, as well as the civil society representatives, in total 100 participants, took part in the conference. The event was supported by the UNODC in cooperation with OSCE, the British Embassy to Kyrgyzstan, UNDP and the UN Peacebuilding Fund.  

The participants discussed women in police role and their professional development. Using this opportunity, the UNODC Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan handed over two vehicles to the Ministry of Interior to promote level of police patrolling including participation of the female police officers. 

Conference participants discussed issues such as women leadership, gender policy in law enforcement, mentoring as a tool to promote gender equality and ethnic representation in police, as well as police interaction with the population and the development of culture of intolerance towards discrimination and gender-based violence.