Kinshasa, 18 June 2012 - The Office of Gender Affairs of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has completed a series of workshops across the country to sensitize members of the Congolese National Police (PNC) on the integration of gender issues in their role of protecting civilians.

The workshops took place in Kananga (Kasaï Occidental province), Lubumbashi (Katanga), Kindu (Maniema), Matadi (Bas-Congo), Mbandaka (Equateur), Bandundu (Bandundu), Mbuji Mayi (Kasaï Oriental) and the capital Kinshasa. Each workshop culminated in participants producing concrete recommendations towards integrating gender concerns into the job specifications for a police officer or noncommissioned officer, including measures such as increased training opportunities for female police officers and more effective methodologies for gender-sensitive implementation of law.

Nearly 800 officers and noncommissioned officers of the PNC took part in the workshops across the country. The Office of Gender Affairs of MONUSCO, in collaboration with UNPOL and civil society partners, is now planning to conduct this type of workshops at more local levels across the provinces to build PNC capacities to address gender imbalances and concerns within its ranks.

Toral Pattni/ MONUSCO