Human rights and gender issues within the police in focus at OSCE roundtable discussion in Yerevan

The OSCE Office in Yerevan together with the Armenian Police and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) launched a series of roundtable discussions for about sixty police officers in Armenia on 1 October 2015 focusing on human rights and gender issues.

The first workshop on 1 October targeted the police leadership, policy-makers and human resources managers. The second workshop at the Police Educational Complex on 2 October is designed for police educators and trainers.

“The work of the police is effective only if the police stand at the forefront of protecting human rights ensuring the rule of law and high standards of policing,” said Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “Respect for human rights is not just a moral or ethical imperative but a practical requirement to build trust in the police. Law enforcement is still considered to be “man’s work” while it is our belief that including women could result in better efficiency and more creativity in problem-solving.”

During the workshops, two international experts invited by DCAF highlighted the general aspects of human rights and gender equality and their relevance to policing.

Participants were also acquainted with the DCAF Toolkit on Police Reform and Gender, which was translated and published by the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The Toolkit is aimed at those working on police reform and contains background information and practical examples as well as tips on designing and implementing the reform process.