Empowering Women’s role in CCP Units

A three-day workshop by UNODC Container Control Programme

10 September 2021, Bhurban, Pakistan: UNODC Container Control Programme concluded a three-day workshop on ‘Empowering Women’s role in CCP Units’.

Container Control Programme (CCP) is a joint initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO). It aims to assist interested member states in enhancing their capacity to identify and intercept attempts of smuggling illicit goods through sea and air cargo. The primary focus of the programme is to improve risk analysis and profiling of the local law enforcement agencies and promote inter-agency cooperation among concerned stakeholders. 

This specific workshop was designed to focus on the inter-agency collaboration from the gender perspective, aiming to elevate women’s role in law enforcement agencies, particularly CCP profiling Units. The event was organized under a recent contribution from the Government of Canada, in which thirteen male and female officers from Pakistan Anti-Narcotics Force, Customs and Ministry of Counter Narcotics took part.

A wide range of topics relating to the challenges faced by women serving in law enforcement agencies were discussed during the workshop. These included the provision of access to equal educational rights, professional opportunities, and personal development on all levels, without any discrimination. Other issues such as the challenges faced by women as they approach their adulthood was also discussed in detail.. The event provided an opportunity for the participants to present their ideas on various topics, fostering a conducive environment for learning and understanding each other's viewpoint, as opposing as it may be.

In an ever-evolving and polarized society, it has become a challenge for people with opposing views to comprehend each other's school of thought. This session aimed to overcome that barrier and give way to a collaborative approach to address the numerous challenges faced by the women of developing countries like Pakistan. Work-life balance was another important topic discussed during the event. This segment presented ways to find healthy balance between personal and professional needs for both men and women.

Story-telling and real-time scenarios were sketched for the participants by the facilitator to shed light on how to inculcate a ‘women-centric approach’ in a predominantly male-governed society. Incorporating ‘Gender Diversity’ at workplace and combating the old misogynistic mindset and behaviour were also discussed in detail followed by group activities. The participants also delved into the root causes of ‘harassment’ at the workplace and in domestic scenarios, discussing how this menace can be dealt with and how men and women can ensure that society becomes more tolerable to those who are speaking out against these unhealthy practices. Mixed participation of male and female audience in the session ensured that participants understood each other's viewpoint and the way forward to strengthen women in all spheres of life prospected.

This was the first of series of such events for a wider group of CCP counterparts from all over Pakistan and was made possiblethanks to the generous contribution from the Government of Canada.