Gender and SSR Toolkit: Police Reform and Gender: Tool 2

Police organisations play an important role in society. They are responsible for maintaining peace and order, upholding the rule of law and performing their duties with sensitivity and regard for members of the community. As police organisations around the world try to improve their response to, and protection of, individuals and communities they become involved in a process of reforming policies and practices. The demand for reform is instigated by a number of factors such as: internal reviews, public pressure, government decisions, international attention and/or post-conflict recovery. Police reform processes support the establishment or strengthening of an accountable, effective, equitable and rights-respecting police organisation. A central pillar of any reform must be a focus on ensuring that the security needs of diverse populations are properly understood and incorporated into the structure and operations of the police.

The following tool on police reform and gender focuses on the importance of strengthening the ability of the police to understand and address the different security needs of the entire population (including men, women, boys and girls, from all walks of life) and creating non-discriminatory and representative police institutions. This compiled information is based on international research and field experience and discusses internal issues (institutional culture) and external issues (policies and procedures for addressing crime) in police reform.

This tool is intended for use by various actors working on police reform including: police officers and recruitment staff, government officials, international and regional organisations and civil society organisations as well as parliamentarians and researchers. It is designed as a reference tool, with a mix of background information and practical examples and tips to assist in the design and/or implementation of the reform process. The following information is not to be used as a template, but as a starting point for incorporating gender issues into a police reform processes that should be broadly defined and reflective of the communities the police serve.