The 59th International Association of Women Police (IAWP) conference has ended at Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada with a call on policemen to support the empowerment of women policing.
The five-day event which was on the theme “Connect, Empower, Lead” sought to strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of women in police around the world.
It was hosted by the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE), the Niagara Regional Police Service and Hamilton Police.
It was attended by hundreds of police women from 46 countries including Ghana comprising of 28 police and 25 immigration officers.
The Hamilton Police Chief, Frank Bergen, commended women in policing in ensuring law and order over the years.
He advocated the need for police men to support their female counterparts in ensuring their empowerment.
“Let all support our women, they are ready to lead us,” he added.
The Niagara Police Chief, Brayn Macculloch, said the conference was crucial and had educated and inspired the delegates.
He commended organisers of the programme for the initiative.
A former Minneapolis Police Chief, Ms Janee Harteau, urged women in policing to encourage themselves in all that they do.
“You will be successful when you stay true to yourselves and support each other,” she added.
The president of IAWP, Ms Deb Friedel, commended the organisers of the programme for their dedication.
Ms Friedel on behalf of IAWP presented awards to the Hamilton and Niagara Police chiefs.
Some of the topics discussed during the conference were leadership, mentoring, drug law enforcement, investigation skills, domestic violence issues and community policing engagement among others.
As part of the occasion, documentaries on female police officers in patrols, investigations of crimes, highlighting challenges facing women, sharing of experiences in policing among others, were aired.
The 60th annual training conference is expected to take place in Auckland, New Zealand from September 17 to 21, 2023.
FROM ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO (CANADA)