Sources United Nations
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) Police Commissioner, Patricia Boughani, said the Beijing Declaration and Programme of Action of 1995 as well as resolutions 1325 and 2122 lay the foundation for integrating women into the heart of peace and security processes.
She said the high profile of women within UNPOL “should encourage the Malian population, but also the Malian security forces to understand the assets and qualities of women, and even to encourage women to take up the careers in posts that are traditionally considered as male dominated ones.”
Boughani stressed that the gender dimension within the Malian security forces can be seen through UNPOL’s joint patrols, colocation, showing the skills and competencies of women through its training within which it systematically requests women be present, and raising awareness on gender issues.
The Police Commissioner underscored the need to be creative to further develop synergy of action with other substantive sections in MINUSMA in order to promote the gender perspective. She said, taking into consideration cultural trends and given the fact that few women are deployed in the Malian security forces in the Center and North regions, UNPOL is developing several strategies, including capacity building for the Malian security forces, training courses as part of its global project, financial empowerment of women through quick impact projects, and setting up local police forces.
Boughani said MINUSMA and UNPOL are conducting numerous actions to promote the gender issue, adding that the mission is aware that this is a very large-scale task.