Breaking the Vase: How women are becoming border guards in Central Asia and Afghanistan

The ‘vase’ has been slowly shattering in many countries as law enforcement agencies, somewhat hesitatingly, have opened their doors to women. Border police services are arguably one of the last outposts reluctant to include women in their ranks. The reluctance has often been mutual, with few women relishing postings away from home and family, in isolated and hostile locations, working for long periods alongside large numbers of men.

The strategic shift from viewing border guards as responsible for defence of the state to protection of citizens – and thereby easing the ‘unhampered flow’ of goods, persons and services - has demanded not only reform and expansion but inclusivity. Representative law enforcement institutions have become an operational necessity.

The 21st century has witnessed a massive increase in mobility and the numbers of labour migrants, with more women crossing borders primarily for trade and employment but also for education, marriage and adventure. The vast majority, looking for employment opportunities and the doorway to a better life for their families, are among the poorest, the least educated and skilled women, with limited employment options.

In Afghanistan it is the tradition for women to stay home, take care of the house, cook, clean, raise the children, and if they go outside the home they must be veiled. We have a saying, ‘women are the flowers and the home is their vase.’

We are breaking the vase.

- Afghan female participant, Border Police, Ministry of Interior, Kabul

In May 2014, the OSCE Border Management Staff College introduced its first all-women staff course. The course content included the standard topics ranging from management models to information-sharing, migration, human trafficking and smuggling, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption measures, conflict management and leadership. There was also a two-day Train the Trainers session and a requirement for group research and presentation on selected topics.

Participants included twenty-five mid and senior-level female officers of the border, customs and drug control agencies of Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Romania and Tajikistan.

For Afghan women the challenges are particular and acute. In a culture where employment in law enforcement has often been frowned upon or banned by husbands and family, those breaking the vase are true pioneers. In addition to the social restrictions many women prefer other forms of employment.

In addition to the intensive 4-week classroom activities, participants visited the Tajik-Afghan border crossing at Panji Poyon, most southerly point of the former Soviet Union, and a stark reminder of the challenges of working in tough conditions. In summer the temperature reaches close to 50C, the terrain is bleak and windswept, living conditions basic coupled with isolation and a two-hour journey to the capital. Tajik women border guards work here too. It is a test of anyone’s mettle.

At the close of the month-long course a Round Table was organized on “Strengthening Border Management and Security via Gender Mainstreaming.” The women vigorously defended the need to promote women to the higher decision-making positions and engaged in lively argument with a male border guard on the issue of women’s capacity to perform their duties.

They were also realistic and recognized that the changes in behaviour and attitude they want to see need time to take effect. For the immediate future they see their responsibility, on returning home, is to advocate their agencies for changes and to initiate more trainings and public awareness campaigns to recruit more vase-breakers and challenge cultural stereotypes of the roles and responsibilities of women and men.

The vase cannot be repaired.

A longer version of this article is available on the OSCE Border Management Staff College website.