Prime Minister: We Have to Promote a More Inclusive and Gender-Balanced Environment in Law Enforcement
Today, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė attended the international conference “Women in Law Enforcement.“
“For many years, we have looked up to Scandinavian countries for the gender-balanced policies. However, today, Ukrainian women fighting at the front as soldiers, snipers, paramedics, etc., serve as the most inspiring example of the equal abilities and skills that both genders possess. On the greatest missions, such as defence of the Homeland against raw aggression, nobody asks (frankly, nobody cares) about the gender, because it is a duty and an honour for all citizens to stand up and defend what is most dear to us,” said Prime Minister in her opening speech.
The Prime Minister celebrated the contribution of women to law enforcement in Lithuania and beyond, and the stereotypes they have broken, proving that women are capable of tackling the complexities of this field, and that their abilities promote more comprehensive and effective working methods.
According to the Prime Minister, it is important to acknowledge stories of stereotypes being overcome in all areas, but a lot more effort is needed to make stereotypes disappear completely. At present, there is still a widespread perception that men are inherently better, more rational managers, and women aspiring to such positions often have to outperform their competitors by a wide margin, which is the reason for the gender inequality that still exists in various areas and for the fact that there are far fewer women in law enforcement, especially at the top level.
The Prime Minister noted that the increased participation of women officers contributes to greater quality of services and operational effectiveness, enhances community trust, and reduces corruption within security institutions, which is why it is necessary to improve gender balance in the field of law enforcement, and to ensure the opportunities for the development and career advancement of the female officers working there.
“It is important to appeal to male colleagues and encourage them to contribute to the promotion of gender equality by encouraging women, appointing them to key positions, and by stepping in when they see discriminatory or harassing practices. It’s vital to emphasize that gender equality is everybody's business, as it benefits not only women but everyone,” added the Head of the Government.
Thanking the organisers for the excellent idea of the event, the Prime Minister expressed her hope that today's event will help find ways to enrich law enforcement with women's abilities and talents, encourage and inspire a range of initiatives to create a better gender balance, foster an environment that respects women's achievements, and create a world where skills and abilities matter more than gender. "I am confident that we are all here not just to talk about change but also to be the change-makers," she stressed.
The conference, opened by the Prime Minister, focuses on the role of women and gender equality in law enforcement, with a particular focus on the low number of women in leadership positions. The event is attended by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, as well as the heads of Europol, Cepol and the European Institute for Gender Equality.