Promoting Gender Mainstreaming and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Host Nation Police Forces

Gender mainstreaming for host nation police is an important component of all missions with a major police component. Creating a police service that is representative of the population it seeks to serve – in terms of ethnicity, sex, religion, language, tribal affiliation etc. – increases the credibility, trust and legitimacy of the service in the eyes of the public. A representative police service also increases operational effectiveness, through access to a broad range of skills, experiences, education and culture, which maximizes the ability to deliver local solutions to local problems. Women often bring specific skills and strengths to police work, such as the ability to defuse potentially violent situations and employ good communication skills to minimize the use of force. In certain contexts, female officers are necessary to perform the cordon and search of women, widen the net of intelligence gathering and assist victims of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

Sexual exploitation and abuse and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault, are one of greatest threats to human security worldwide. Police officers must receive appropriate training to respond to victims and process and investigate these crimes effectively. Awareness-raising and emergency support services (medical, psycho-social, legal and other) have to be an ongoing exercise for nascent police organizations of the host countries.

Promoting Gender Mainstreaming and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Host Nation Police Forces...