Women’s rights, police capacity building focus of OSCE workshop in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, 16 March 2011 – Building the capacity of national police personnel to protect women’s rights is the focus of a three-day OSCE-supported workshop that opened today in Tashkent.

The workshop, jointly organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and Police Academy of Uzbekistan, brings together 25 representatives from the Police Academy and heads of police units of the Interior Ministry. It is aimed at increasing awareness of international human rights standards and fostering women’s participation in law enforcement institutions. Participants will discuss the implementation of the National Action Plan on the UN Convention on Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in the context of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

“Building the capacity of police, in particular in the field of community policing, is essential to ensuring the protection of women’s rights and effectively addressing security challenges,” said Ambassador Istvan Venczel, the OSCE  Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The workshop is based on national and international good practices. International and national experts will discuss female representation in the police with participants and will present an overview of national and international standards on the rights of women and their practical application both by police and within the police service.