Workshop "Gender equality and gender-based discrimination in the police!

The workshop "Gender equality and gender-based discrimination in police structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina" was held in the past two days (8-9.3.2024.) in Konjic in cooperation with the Agency for Education and Professional Training of Personnel- (AEPTM, Mostar) and the "Policeowomen's Network" Association. The aim of the workshop, which is being held with the support of the project "EU  for Human Rights and Combating Discrimination in BiH", is to raise awareness of gender equality and gender-based discrimination in security structures in BiH. In this regard, topics were covered: gender equality in police structures, the importance of women's participation in police work, gender-based discrimination in the workplace and problems in practice, domestic and international legislative framework, gender stereotypes and prejudices, obligations of institutions in prevention and suppression of gender-based discrimination, protection mechanisms, etc.

At the workshop, it was pointed out that much more developed countries than ours have not achieved gender equality in certain areas of public and private life, and that this is a long and slow process. The need to engage the entire society was emphasized, because parents, educators, and teachers have great power, since children are not born with gender stereotypes and prejudices, but are taught by society. "It is important to raise awareness of the fact that gender equality does not mean that men will have fewer rights, but that we will be equal in rights and that gender equality brings benefit to the whole society", said the president of the PWNA, Kristina Jozić, who believes that gender equality is not only an issue for women, but also for men, especially in those spheres where they are underrepresented and where their rights are possibly threatened.

At the end of the workshop, the participants were greeted by the Deputy Director of the Agency for Training and Professional Training of Personnel, Predrag Šupljeglav, who, together with the President of PWNA, Kristina Jozić, presented the participants with certificates, stressing that the training on this topic is organized with the aim of improving police capacities and preventing various forms of gender-based violence, thus creating conditions for retention in the service and professional advancement of both women and men.