OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports networking of women police officers from Montenegro and North Macedonia

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, together with the OSCE Mission to Skopje, supported the organization of a networking meeting between the Women Police Association of Montenegro and women police officers from North Macedonia, on 17 and 18 May 2022 in Skopje.

As part of the Mission to Montenegro ongoing support to women police officers, seven members from the Women Police Association of Montenegro travelled to Skopje to meet with their colleagues and share experiences in advocating for gender equality in the police service.

Magdalena Nestorovska, State Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in North Macedonia, highlighted the need for high-level support to gender mainstreaming the police. She commended the mentorship programme implemented with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, which provided support to young women employed in the police force to adjust to working within a male-dominated working environment and recognize and overcome professional barriers, identifying opportunities for career advancement.

Biljana Dulović, Head of the Women Police Association of Montenegro, highlighted the results achieved thus far in increasing the number and professional development of women in the police. She thanked the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for its support since the inception of the Association, and highlighted the concrete results achieved through the 2021 campaign “We are the Power of the Team – for More Women in Policing”, which the Police Academy is implementing in 2022 as well. She recalled that last year, out of the total number of candidates admitted to the Police Academy, 38.8% were women, the highest percentage so far.

The OSCE Mission will continue to o assist Montenegro in further advancing the participation of women at all levels of policing.