2024 CCPCJ-side-event-Mentoring Momentum

Join us on 13 May 2024...

... in exploring good practices in women´s networks supported by UNODC in different regions in Africa to empower women in countering cybercrime and transnational organized crime.

Research has shown that women's networks can be a powerful tool in advocating for and improving women’s representation indecision making positions. Networks have the potential to equip women with the skills and contacts necessary to excel in their careers and to ultimately strengthen female representation in crime prevention and criminal justice responses. This has been further recognised in the UNODC Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2022-2026), which emphasizes the transformative impact of women's leadership in addressing crime and advocating for equal opportunities in decision-making processes. To achieve this, UNODC has launched and supported the establishment of several women networks.

This side event will raise awareness about the impact of female mentorship in advancing gender mainstreaming efforts across UNODC programmes. It will showcase existing women networks within the Global Programme on Cybercrime, the Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention and the Transnational Organized Crime Programme in Eastern Africa, emphasizing their role in mentoring and supporting women professionals and the impact of UNODC mentoring networks in advancing gender equality and women's leadership within the criminal justice sector:

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 13 May 2024
Time: 14:10 – 15:00 (CEST)
Place: Vienna International Centre, Room M6
More information on the CCPCJ 2024 website

Meet the panel:

Mr. John Brandolino

Director, Division for Treaty Affairs

UNODC

H.E. Mr. Maurice Makoloo

Ambassador of Kenya

Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations in Vienna

Ms. Eswari Bose

INTERPOL Regional Specialized Officers / Coordinator of the EAPCCO cyber desk

Kenya

Eswari Bose is a Regional Specialized Officer in the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa/EAPCCO Secretariat. She coordinates the counter terrorism and cybercrime desks in the EAPCCO region, which covers 14 Eastern Africa Member States. Through the EAPCCO Gender Sub-committee, she has highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming and establishment of the Women in Police Network (WPN), that will bring female law enforcement officers together through the development of support networks and collective work to address gender issues, and by advancing women’s full integration into all levels of the security sector. Eswari is a serving police officer from Directorate of Criminal Investigations-Kenya with over 10 years of work experience in investigations. She has served in the Kenyan police force since 2011, and is motivated by her passion for women's engagement in crime detection and prevention, conflict resolution and peace building.

Ms. Victoria Ibiwoye

Founder

OneAfricanChild

Nigeria

Victoria Ibiwoye is the Founder of OneAfricanChild, an organization that empowers children and youth in underserved communities in Nigeria to engage as global citizens through peace and citizenship education programs. Victoria has contributed to several high-level education policy dialogues within the UN System to promote policies informed by young people’s voices and experiences that transform education systems. Victoria has championed the launch of several innovative youth-led initiatives including the UNESCO SDG4Youth Network and the Joint Youth Force Programme on Financing a Green, Inclusive and Sustainable recovery efforts, supported by the Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth. Victoria is an active member of the UNODC Women’s Network in Law and Policy and believes in harnessing the power of women's leadership to create more equitable and effective policies.

Ms. Stephanie Fitswemila Philip

Head of the Advance Fee Fraud Section

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria

Stephanie is a Chief Superintendent with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s leading Anti-Corruption law enforcement Agency with the mandate to rid the country of economic and financial crimes like Advance Fee Fraud, Cybercrime and Money Laundering. She has over 14 years of experience as a financial crime investigator having joined the EFCC as a Cadet Trainee in 2009 and rose through the ranks. She is currently Head of the Advance Fee Fraud Section for the EFCC Makurdi Zonal Command.

She holds a B.A. Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri, a PGD in Criminology & Security Studies, National Open University, Enugu Study Centre a Masters in Anti-Corruption Studies (MACS-Online) from International Academy of Anti -Corruption, Vienna, Austria. She attended several courses on financial laws, investigation techniques and the job and isa Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), member UNODC Women in Cyber (WIC) group and member, Association for Women in Crypto (AWIC)

Overview of UNODC Networks for Women in Africa

African Women in Cyber Network (AWIC)

The UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime established in October 2021 a network of female professionals working in Africa in countering cybercrime professions, a professional sphere where women are particularly under-represented.In December 2023, the AWIC (African Women in Cyber) network counted 343 participants from 37 African countries.

Main objective:

Provide opportunities for women working in countering cybercrime profession, to network, share experience, further train themselves and promote international cooperation between female professionals

More information on the AWIC network on this website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/gender/news/women-in-cyber.html

To sign up for the network, please contact Marie-Line Billaudaz via marie-line.billaudaz@un.org

Network of Women in Law and Policy against Organized Crime in West & Central Africa

The UNODC Global Programme on Implementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime launched in November 2023 the Network of Women in Law and Policy against Organized Crime in West and Central Africa. The Network has over 70 members from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal. The Network operates in both French and English.

Main objective:

Support female policymakers, legislative drafters, criminal justice practitioners and law enforcement in the meaningful participation in the development of legislative and strategic frameworks to prevent and counter organized crime

More information on the network on this website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/intro/implementing-untoc/gender-and-human-rights.html

To sign up for the network, please contact Magdalena Howland via magdalena.howland@un.org

Eastern Africa regional Women Police Network (WPN)

The UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa is supporting the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) and its gender sub-committee in enhancing the number of women in senior positions in law enforcement, their participation, and enabling environments for female officers, and enhancing openness and attractiveness of law enforcement careers to female staff, while increasing regional cooperation. This includes the establishment of the Eastern Africa regional Women Police Network (WPN) - a regional mentorship platform for female law enforcement officers.

Main objective:

Share experiences, good practices and address challenges in advancing in criminal justice professions

For more information on the network, please contact Tina Mykkanen (UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa) via tina.mykkanen@un.org

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Join us on 13 May 2024...

... in exploring good practices in women´s networks supported by UNODC in different regions in Africa to empower women in countering cybercrime and transnational organized crime.

Meet the panel:

Overview of UNODC Networks for Women in Africa

African Women in Cyber Network (AWIC)

Network of Women in Law and Policy against Organized Crime in West & Central Africa

Eastern Africa regional Women Police Network (WPN)