NEWSLETTER March 2018
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Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Women’s Advisory Network NEWSLETTER March 2018 Inside this edition: Pacific country WAN Reports: New Zealand Police- National Women’s Leadership Conference First Niuean Police Female constable certified as Diver A PICP WAN Working Group met in Honiara, th th PICP WAN working Solomon Islands 14 and 15 March 2018. The purpose of this workshop was to start thinking about group meeting photos the future Strategic Direction of PICP WAN, This was Important dates the result of an action item from the 2017 WAN Mr Kevin Kneebone ends Conference in Guam, where it was identified that members have a lack of understanding around the secondment with PICP WAN WAN purpose, history and goals. Alongside the ELT Secretariat last Month – Thank you Lead for WAN, Commissioner Matt Varley, the for your contributions and Wish representatives discussed the current Strategic you all the best in your new role.. Direction 2015-2019 document and the relevance of this document for the future. The key outcomes sought from this workshop were to discuss issues affecting different WANs, flag upcoming or ongoing concerns, share ideas and actions, and promote communication between local WANs. The recommendations coming out of this workshop will be discussed at the upcoming WAN Conference in Samoa in July 2018 “Networking is NOT about just connecting people, it’s about connecting people with people, People with Ideas”…Michele Jennae. 1 | P a g e NEW CALEDONIA WAN: Fighting to stop the violence against women, was the main purpose of an event organised in late 2017, New Caledonia. At this, the Australian General Consul, Mr. Paul WILSON and his team welcomed the leaders of the local institutions including the congress and the government of New Caledonia represented by the leaders of the condition Women’s Department, the South Pacific Commission represented by Mr Cameron Diver, the New Caledonia’s Courtyard represented by the prosecutor Mr Alexis Bouroz and The Vietnam vice Consul Jean pierre Dinh). Each one of them gave a speech, showing, their interest and involvement to the event to stop the violence against women in New Caledonia and that of the Pacific Region. The President, the Vice President, and the staff of the WAN-NC, also participated in the event, by putting a white ribbon on the fence rods surrounding the Australian consulate. The day’s celebrations ended with a fresh drink around a cocktail. This was a sign that everyone had appreciated what had been done during the sharing and open discussions. The President, the vice president, and the staff of the WAN-NC, also participated to the event, putting a white ribbon on the fence rods surrounding the Australian consulate. Police Officer Sylvia Chabale leader of Help Unite Group reports : For Woman International awareness, The Government of New Caledonia organised an event/march on the 22nd of November 2017. This was represented by the colour orange: The purpose of this was to stand alongside women against the violence that they are facing in their daily lives. The different places, where these women stopped in during the walk, were represented by the different institutions where they can find help and assistance. The gathering started in front of the New Caledonia’s Museum. One of the leaders, Rolande Tolue, gave a brief speech clothed with an orange tee-shirt. The group then moved together to the police office unit, where a meeting, led by Sylvia CHABALE, Police officer and GRANGON Laurence, took place. The women found answers about how the police procedure is made from the beginning to the end (from the victim’s report to judge’s decision for the author of infringment), including the role of the Help Unit Group. The organisers indicated that the event was a success with the different questions being asked. It showed they were really interested in the event. 2 | P a g e These women were glad to see how the event was a real eye-opener for the major institutions in the capital as « le relais de la province sud », and « le foyer béthanie ». Ending the march at the museum, those women were satisfied to understand the purpose of this event, with a smile on their face making people sensitive on the difficulties and sufferings they met as victims of violence and to save them from worse. __________________________________________________________________________________ Report from Fiji Police WAN NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE “Nothing is impossible when you are determined to strive for excellence”. These are sentiments echoed by the newly appointed Fiji Police Deputy Director Forensic Sciences Services, Superintendent Margret Marshall. Superintendent Marshall has always considered that working in a male dominated organisation is an inspiration and motivation in itself, believing “We female officers need to strive and compete with our male counterparts as they are our best competitors. We need to learn from them and excel in our own expert fields.” Superintendent Margret Marshall is the first ever female officer to be promoted to this position The Fiji Police WAN is grateful to the Commissioner of Fiji Police in recognising the potential and capability of female officers and their development in the policing industry. Recognising women to take up supervisory and management roles in the Fiji Police is one of the Intent of the Commissioner of Fiji Police. DETERMINED TO SERVE Two women officers who make up the 13 member United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) contingent say they are ready for the challenge of policing in a new environment. UNAMID will be the first tour for Woman Detective Constable Ateshni Askika Ram and Woman Police Constable Ilisabeta Iliana. WDC Ateshni who is based at the Nausori Police Station says she has prepared well for the year away from home adding her family has given her their full blessings. “I have two children and I will surely miss them and they know that I will be away for a long time and it’s great that they understand the nature of my work which makes me determined to do my very best”. 3 | P a g e For WPC Iliana who has spent the last 11 years in the Force, leaving her family and her 9 children behind will also be difficult. “My youngest are twin three year old girls and while I have been away for a long period for work, this will be the longest time away from home and we have prepared them well to know that this is the life of a police officer where the call to serve can either be here at home or in a different part of the world”. The deployment of the two women also means that the Fiji Police Force has continuously met its quota for the number of female officers deployed for various UN missions. UNMISS Contingent Farewelled Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho farwelled W/IP Shobna Sharma,W/IP Loata Baleinavere and CPL Sunil Prasad who left on 10th February 2018 for a year of duty in South Sudan POLICING THE GLOBE WITH MUSIC The Fiji Police Band was part of the Fiji Delegation to the Climate Change Conference of the Parties 23rd Session in Bonn, Germany. Six members of this band are female police officers, comprising Sgt Bausema Lilinatabua (plays the Cornet), WPC Titilia Koroitacina (plays the Flute), WPC Veniana Biumaiwai (plays the E- flat Saxophone), WPC Mere Lalakobatiki (plays the Flute) and WSC Elaine Campbell (plays the Euphonium). The participation of these female officers which livened up the group included traditional Fijian dances (Meke), Fijian Island dance (Lakalaka), Brass Band and Jazz Band. The impact created by the presence of these female officers were applauded by the members of COP23 and even by the “Terminator” star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Californian governor, who got into the groove of traditional dance (Taralala) with band member WPC Titilia Koroitacina. It is through this music that the Fiji Police Band promotes policing not only to the local and regional scenes but to the international scene as well. 4 | P a g e UNITED NATIONS TRAINING FOR SENIOR OFFICERS Three senior women officers attended a United Nations training reinforcing the Commissioner of Police’s intentions of having more female officers receive international training The three are Acting Superintendent (A/SP) Amelia Rokotuivuna (Divisional Prosecutor East), A/SP Devika Narayan (Officer in Charge Human Resources) and A/SP Aseri Nakibo (Fiji Police Academy). Director International Relations Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ulaiasi Ravula says the course is in line with a UN Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security with intentions to increase women participation in UN peace keeping missions in the next 5 years. “Fiji is very fortunate as this is the first training held in the Asia Pacific region and the invitation was extended to the Fiji Police Force through the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO), ASEANAPOL through our observer status and the Royal Malaysian Police as the training is currently being held in Kuala Lumpur”. SUPERINTENDENTS QUALIFYING COURSE 1/2017 6 Women officers were part of the Superintendents Qualifying Course 1/2017 that graduated on the 1st of December 2017. ASP Devika Narayan, A/ASP Helen Susie, A/ASP Eseta Lewabeci, IP Ruci Nasemira, IP Asenaca Maqanatagane and IP Eileen Pickering are now eligible for future promotion. This course is specifically designed for officers of and above the ranks of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and those who are holding supervisory positions. The 6 officers have stated that they are grateful for the opportunity which is in line with the Commissioner of Police Intent of exposing more senior women to local and international command training.