About

RS MoI Women Network – RS WPON

The Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) launched an initiative in 2008 to establish Women Police Officers Network in Southeast Europe (WPON), which aims to promote and apply the principle of gender equality and democracy in policing throughout law enforcement agencies.

Women Police Officers Network in Southeast Europe was established in October 2010 by nominating 2 representatives from each of 9 police services of 8 countries in the region to WPON Assembly and by electing WPON Executive Board. The police services of WPON are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (The Republic of Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro.

The idea was that all police services, members of the WPON, form national Women Police Officers Networks.

In 2011, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska (BiH) established the Women Police Officer Network of the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior. The Minister of the Interior and the Director of the RS Police gave full support to these activities. The Founding Assembly was held on May 31, 2011 when the governing bodies (Association Assembly, Management Board and Supervisory Board) were elected. RS MoI Women Network – RS WPON was officially registered as a citizens’ association in September 2011 with the Basic Court in Banja Luka thus being the first association of this type in SEE region. The Association has its logo, statute, seal and bank account.

The Association Assembly is constituted of the representatives of all basic organizational units of the Ministry. The number of Assembly members appointed from organizational units depends on the size and number of employees in a basic organizational unit. Assembly members have an obligation to coordinate activities at their respective basic organizational units and to inform all members of the Association about the activities being carried out.

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board are constituted of the members from different organizational units which cover the entire territory of the Republic of Srpska. The Management Board decides on all issues related to the Network’s work and activities, while Supervisory Board controls the Association’s business activities and the work of the Management Board. Membership in the Association is voluntary and any woman employed by the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior, who fills in the membership application form and accepts to pay a symbolic monthly membership fee, can become a member.

Objectives

Promotion and implementation of gender equality and democracy principles in police services,

  • Strategic approach to the admission of women to the police,
  • Education, training and career development,
  • Promotion of police officers’ and other RS MoI employees’ work results.

Mission

The Association Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior Women Network – RS WPON is dedicated to affirming women in police structures and empowering women in fight against gender-based violence.

Vision

Active participation in creating a gender-equal police organization where women can exploit their potential, and instituting a system of preventive measures to fight gender-based violence and protect vulnerable groups with a particular focus on women and children.

Tasks and Activities

  • Association of women employees of the Ministry in order to improve their role and position within the Ministry in accordance with the goals;
  • Raising awareness of women and men in the Ministry on gender equality;
  • Advocating for gender sensitive education and training of Ministry employees;
  • Providing advice to women employees of the Ministry on issues relevant to their position and gender equality;
  • Exchange of experience and information with same and similar associations, governmental and non-governmental sector;
  • Collaboration with relevant institutions, bodies and organizations, non-governmental and international organizations on women role and status in security field;
  • Professional development of members through the exchange of information and other types of additional education and training;
  • Exchange of information among members of the Association on the position of women in the Ministry and gender issues related to their work;
  • Prevention of and fight against all forms of violence against women, children and other vulnerable categories;
  • Exploring the position, role and status of women and children in a society;
  • Prevention of and fight against alcoholism, drug addiction, social networks abuse and other socially unacceptable behavior which have a detrimental effect on women, children and other vulnerable categories;
  • Implementation of projects, organization of seminars, meetings, round tables, conferences in order to reach goals, tasks and activities of the Association;
  • Publishing books, brochures, manuals, expert literature and other publications in order to accomplish Association’s objectives in accordance with the law;
  • Providing information about the work and activities of the Association within the Ministry, as well as to the public,
  • Other issues relevant to the work, development and promotion of the Association.