Paper Example on IAWP: Strengthening Women in Policing since 1915

Introduction

The International Association of Women Police (IAWP) is a professional organization that was founded in 1915 in the US with the primary aim of strengthening and raising the capacity of women in policing (“International Association,” 2020). The organization is a major yardstick for women police as it offers training, mentoring, and peer support to help women police to hold leadership positions in organizations. The organization runs under the mission “To strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of women in policing internationally” (“International Association,” 2020). The website reports that IAWP has membership from more than 60 countries.

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The eligible membership for this organization are women who are police officers in different countries. It organizes award programs, affiliate programs, sponsorships, and training conferences that are aimed at equipping the members with the necessary leadership skills. Women face various challenges, and IAWP provides a platform where women skills can be honed to make them more represented in the justice system. It is an organization that I would wish to join so that I can learn from other women.

Description of Conference

IAWP participates in conferences that are meant to equip the members with the necessary skills and training to become better women leaders. There have been past conferences which have been held and there are others that are have been planned to be held in the future. One of the upcoming conferences is the 2020 IAWP Conference, which was rescheduled to September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme conference will be held in Indonesia from 5-9 September 2021 under the theme, “Women at The Center Stage of Policing.” There are more than 70 speakers who are set to grace the occasion (“International Association,” 2020). The theme is meant to advocate the role of women in the policing sector as well as their active involvement in the justice system. It seeks to instill power and confidence among women to take the front step in their policing duties.

Some of the topics to be handled include Current Issues on Transnational Crimes, Women, Peace, and Security, Women and Leadership, Police Women and Their Challenges, The Role of Women in Policing, Science, Technology, and Policing, and Current Issues on Transnational Crimes, among others (“International Association,” 2020). Each of these topics will be delivered by keynote speakers who are experts in the respective fields. The website provides a list of topics that will be covered on each specific day and the duration that each of the topics will last.

These topics are set to align with the theme of the conference, “Women at The Center Stage of Policing.” Some of the most interesting topics that I found from the list are Current Issues on Transnational Crimes, Women and Leadership and Technology, and Policing. The topic, Technology, and Policing is a current issue that seeks to address the need for the incorporation of technology in policing. As technology advances, so should police use it in their work to ensure that they are in tandem with the current developments. This may help them to be able to deal with technology-related crimes such as cybercrime. Cybercrime is reported to be on the increase, and police officers need to be fully equipped to deal with it through getting proper training on how cybercrime and cybercriminals operate. The topic, Current Issues on Transnational Crimes, is important in the explanation of major issues across the globe that police are supposed to deal with. Crime issues in one country may differ from those in another country, and it is important that police officers get accustomed to different trends in different countries and/or regions. Women and Leadership is a topic that will seek to address the various leadership opportunities that are available for women, especially in the justice system, where women are seriously underrepresented.

Personal Applications

This exercise has equipped me with vital information about professional development. From the analysis, I have realized that the IAWP is very important to me, and I hope to one day become a member. In the 21st century, women are very much a minority in the criminal justice system of the United States. Imagine what that number is in countries where women have minimal rights. It would be an honor to meet and learn from these women who have stepped into positions of power in countries where they are still oppressed.

The exercise has also presented essential knowledge about the role of women in the society. While women remain oppressed in various countries and underrepresented in sectors such as the justice sector, professional organizations such as IAWP are essential in empowering women and restating their position in the society. It would be a privilege for me to join IAWP and become one of the champions of women participation in the various sectors such as the justice system, where they are underrepresented. I feel more empowered to realize that there are women out there who have gone against the odds and champion for their recognition.

Reference

International Association of Women Police (2020). http://www.iawp.org/