PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN: UN chief hails departing all-India Police Unit in Liberia
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has praised the 125-strong contingent of the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU), who are due to end their mission in Liberia on Sunday, saying "I commend your contributions in creating an environment for the Government of Liberia to assume fully its security responsibilities by 30 June 2016.
In a press statement here, Ban said “Through their work, they managed criminality, deterred sexual and gender-based violence and helped rebuild safety and confidence among the population."
According to the statement, Ban also underscored that the conduct of the FPU served as an example of how the deployment of more female uniformed personnel can help the UN in its efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.
“The Secretary-General thanks all the women who served in the FPU for inspiring all Liberians, as well as current and future generations of female police officers, and becoming role models for gender equality,” the statement added.
According to the UN, India has been an unequivocal supporter of women in peace and security worldwide. It is currently the fourth largest police-contributing country with 1,009 police officers worldwide, and the third largest contributor of female police officers with 115, just behind Bangladesh and Nepal.
“You have certain professions that are seen to be traditional masculine jobs,” explained Clare Hutchinson, a gender adviser for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
“What we’re doing with the military and the police is breaking down the perception that this is a male domain and that women can’t be involved. We know that the obstacles aren’t that it’s too dangerous or that they don’t want to travel or leave their children. Those aren’t the most prevailing obstacles; it’s mainly that they’re not aware of opportunities.”
Ms. Hutchinson emphasized that to increase the presence of women in peace operations, the UN relies on its Member States to recruit them at the country level first. To support the effort, the Organization has helped train over 555 female police officers in five countries, leading to 174 additional women being deployed last year.
They’ve served as role models for the local girls, and the effect on Liberian women was very significant.
“What comes out as very striking to me when you talk to women in the services, the first thing they say is that they’re a police officer, not a woman. So they’re not women police officers, they’re police officers who are women. And I think that’s very important for us to remember,” she noted.
Responding, Inspector Sangmitrai Kittappan, 40, said she was encouraged to join the Indian police force by her family – especially her father and husband, who is also a police officer. She has served two one-year rotations in Liberia, returning in February 2015 for the second time because Ebola had ravaged the country and she wanted to help.
Bidding the team farewell back in Liberia, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, commented: “We see you as family," saying “If I had my will, I would have recommended for another unit of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to leave, so that the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) would continue its stay in the country for the time being."
Since 2007, there have been nine rotations of all-female police units from India, whose primary responsibilities have been to provide 24-hour guard duty and public order management and to conduct night patrols in and around the capital, Monrovia, while assisting to build the capacity of local security institutions.
On Sunday, 125 women and supporting personnel that constitute the unit will pack their bags and return home to all corners of India following their one-year rotation in the post-conflict nation. Since the civil war ended in 2003, UNMIL has been supporting Liberia to rebuild its institutions so it can maintain stability without its presence.
-0- PANA VAO 13Feb2016
In a press statement here, Ban said “Through their work, they managed criminality, deterred sexual and gender-based violence and helped rebuild safety and confidence among the population."
According to the statement, Ban also underscored that the conduct of the FPU served as an example of how the deployment of more female uniformed personnel can help the UN in its efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.
“The Secretary-General thanks all the women who served in the FPU for inspiring all Liberians, as well as current and future generations of female police officers, and becoming role models for gender equality,” the statement added.
According to the UN, India has been an unequivocal supporter of women in peace and security worldwide. It is currently the fourth largest police-contributing country with 1,009 police officers worldwide, and the third largest contributor of female police officers with 115, just behind Bangladesh and Nepal.
“You have certain professions that are seen to be traditional masculine jobs,” explained Clare Hutchinson, a gender adviser for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
“What we’re doing with the military and the police is breaking down the perception that this is a male domain and that women can’t be involved. We know that the obstacles aren’t that it’s too dangerous or that they don’t want to travel or leave their children. Those aren’t the most prevailing obstacles; it’s mainly that they’re not aware of opportunities.”
Ms. Hutchinson emphasized that to increase the presence of women in peace operations, the UN relies on its Member States to recruit them at the country level first. To support the effort, the Organization has helped train over 555 female police officers in five countries, leading to 174 additional women being deployed last year.
They’ve served as role models for the local girls, and the effect on Liberian women was very significant.
“What comes out as very striking to me when you talk to women in the services, the first thing they say is that they’re a police officer, not a woman. So they’re not women police officers, they’re police officers who are women. And I think that’s very important for us to remember,” she noted.
Responding, Inspector Sangmitrai Kittappan, 40, said she was encouraged to join the Indian police force by her family – especially her father and husband, who is also a police officer. She has served two one-year rotations in Liberia, returning in February 2015 for the second time because Ebola had ravaged the country and she wanted to help.
Bidding the team farewell back in Liberia, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, commented: “We see you as family," saying “If I had my will, I would have recommended for another unit of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to leave, so that the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) would continue its stay in the country for the time being."
Since 2007, there have been nine rotations of all-female police units from India, whose primary responsibilities have been to provide 24-hour guard duty and public order management and to conduct night patrols in and around the capital, Monrovia, while assisting to build the capacity of local security institutions.
On Sunday, 125 women and supporting personnel that constitute the unit will pack their bags and return home to all corners of India following their one-year rotation in the post-conflict nation. Since the civil war ended in 2003, UNMIL has been supporting Liberia to rebuild its institutions so it can maintain stability without its presence.
-0- PANA VAO 13Feb2016
