Policewomen urged to discuss equality

By Nefertiti Matatia 26 July 2018, 12:00AM

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has appealed to policewomen attending a regional conference to use the opportunity to discuss the promotion of gender equality in their police forces.

Opening the 2018 Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (P.I.C.P.) Women’s Advisory Network (W.A.N.) conference yesterday, the Prime Minister congratulated the 21 delegates from throughout the region including Samoa, through the Samoa Police Women’s Advisory Network (S.P.W.A.N.).

“The women leaders from your police ministries in your respective countries and there are 21 countries represented this morning. I am extremely happy to see this development, development in women. Samoa also contributes very strongly in the promotion of gender equality even within our own public service. There are more women in top positions in the government than men,” he said.

“Samoa also contributes very strongly in the promotion of gender equality even within our own public service. There are more women in top positions in the government than men. 

This conference which you are all a part of is to ensure that there is equality in decision making within the police force, and I congratulate you all for the conference which you are holding and also for pushing gender issues to be promoted in all our respective countries.”

Detective Inspector Efo Moalele-Tuua, who represented the Samoa Police Force and is chair of the P.I.C.P. W.A.N., said the summit gave the police forces from throughout the region an opportunity to improve their services and ensure stability and confidence to tackle challenges as well as collaborate.

“I hope progress has been made in terms of advancing the purpose of W.A.N. and the fact that we are capable of getting the job done. Our vision is to empower policing women, valued and recognized but especially the safety and security of our pacific communities,” she added.

“To enhance and support women in policing within the pacific region, we do agree and believe that this conference will act in the integrity, resilience and inclusiveness but also our commitment in the execution of our workers in the police females in the pacific region. It is really important for us women in the police force due to the fact that this is where we encourage all females to become strong not forgetting the gender equity.” 

The 21 delegates represent police forces from American Samoa, Australia, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 

The P.I.C.P. W.A.N. was established in 2003 and represents 21 P.I.C.P. member countries that are female officers. The P.I.C.P. is a non-profit organisation made up of police services in the Pacific and works to improve policing in the Pacific by providing a common voice on law enforcement, providing a forum to share ideas and information on crime and policing, and coordinating training and development activities for our members. The conference will close today.

By Nefertiti Matatia 26 July 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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