International Muslim Police Women Conference

The conference opened with welcoming remarks by co-chairs Lt. Homaira of the Police Academy and MP Shinkai Karukhail. The theme of the day was “Police Women’s Security Roles in Islamic Society.” Satanman Samia introduced the keynote speaker, Helena Iqbal Saeed, Assistant Inspector General of the Islamabad Police, who spoke on “Women and Women Police in the Pakistani Context.” General Saeed then presented a short film on how Pakistan has dealt with the challenge of traffic control, including the use of women police to curb the problem.

After a short break the first panel discussion began, chaired by Samira Hamidi of UNDP. National panel members included Lt. Col. Jamila, Major Gulghultai, and Lt. Col. Hekmatshuhi of the Afghan National Police. International members included Superintendent Laila Ali, of the Royal Malaysian Police and attorney Melinda Lord of the Justice Sector Support Program.

A second panel discussion took place after lunch, which was chaired by Anne-Karin Hannevold, Assistant Chief of Police of the International Section of the Norwegian Police. The panel included representatives of the Indonesian National Police, the Bangladesh National Police and Norwegian Police Chief Superintendent Gro Smedsrud, who gave a very down to earth discourse on the trials and tribulations of police women everywhere, citing examples from her own experience in Norway.

The day just kept getting better and better, with a group photo shoot followed by a uniform parade in the gardens of the Serena Hotel. Each country represented at the conference donned their police uniforms and marched along the garden walkway up to the flag stands, while local and international press photographed, taped and interviewed conference participants. It was a spectacle full of pride and empowerment, especially for the Afghan police women.

Finally, a gala dinner was attended by all the women of the conference. The Afghan police women wore traditional Afghan dresses and made a colorful, cultural display for the internationals who were very much in awe. Before dinner, everyone danced, or at least tried to dance, to a traditional Afghan band. It was an excellent day.