Raising Awareness of Sexual Harassment within Police Ranks

(Patria) - A two-day workshop on the topic "Raising Awareness of Gender-Based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" attended by about 40 female police officers from police agencies across Bosnia and Herzegovina began today (September 24, 2020) in Konjic. This is the second workshop of its kind, implemented within the project "Combating Gender-Based Violence in Police Structures in BiH," carried out by the Association "Network of Female Police Officers" with the support of the US Embassy.

The aim of the workshop is to raise awareness of gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in the police, as well as existing protection mechanisms, considering that a conducted study showed a high dark figure of such cases within BiH police structures, and female officers are reluctant to report them. The cause of such discrimination is most often gender inequality, which is particularly pronounced in police structures where men are still predominantly represented.

Through this type of education, female police officers are empowered to recognize all forms of discrimination and report them to the competent authorities.

Considering that the police should be an example to other institutions in combating gender-based violence, both in undertaking measures and actions within their jurisdiction and within their own ranks, it is absolutely unacceptable for such cases in the police to go unreported and unprosecuted. In the next phase of this project, training will be conducted for competent representatives of the Internal Control Departments within the police, with the aim of specializing in investigating cases of discrimination and creating guidelines for action.