Sunday October 11, 2015
Kabul (BNA) While large number of females have been employed in Afghan National Police, considering the presence of women and girls in ANP units, as a need the first lady, Rola Ghasni emphasized that more females should be employed by ANP. Addressing a meeting organized by EU Police Mission in Kabul on the importance of role of women in security forces particularly police, the first lady said employment of women in police is an urgent need and more women should be employed by ANP. She added presence of women in ANP ranks should not be symbolic but there is a need. Female police officers can support male police officers during house search and interrogation. She went on to say during civil war, women suffered and damaged more than men, therefore it is needed to have strong and capable female police forces. In his address to the meeting, chief of EU Police Mission emphasizing on the further presence of women in police ranks and other security branches, added employment of women in police ranks enjoys high importance because police is responsible to implement law and perform criminal investigation.
The EU Police Mission requested the MoI to pave the way for employment of more women in police force. Head of gender affairs of the MoI, BG Hekmat Shahi, talked on the role of female police in security branches specially in ANP ranks and said in 2014 the Afghan government implemented programs for employment of women in ANP branches. He added at present 2421 women in military branches and 274 women have been working in non-military branches in ANP. The MoI has setup over 5000 posts for women and currently 2200 women are needed to be employed. A number of military experts while considering women presence in security branches particularly ANP as an urgent need, emphasized that women have managed to achieve good progresses in different sections despite of available problems and challenges ahead of them. Political analyst Ekram Andeshmand said no doubt women can play active role beside men in all branches. Women employment in police is an urgent need because our country is in a sensitive condition and sometimes terrorists use women clothes for their attacks. Women can play active role in security bodies and during searches they can identify more suspects. A number of female police called their presence a need, saying their demand from the countrymen is to see women police similar to other women. Khadija a female police officer said she is often disturbed by men in bazaar and men address her with impolite words. I expect men to support female ANP. Females are employed in all countries by military branches. We also want to take part in our country’s defense. She added, in the last 13 years, the female ANP managed to build their professional capacities. Suraya Raiszada