The conference, which began on September 21, 2026, at the Rwanda Police headquarters in Kigali, is attended by representatives from Djibouti, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Rwanda, as well as members of the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Committee on Gender Equality, the EAPCCO Secretariat, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Eastern Africa. The conference focuses on the "Empowering Every Badge" project, which aims to identify and address challenges faced by women in law enforcement and justice sectors.
The project, implemented by EAPCCO, UNODC, and various partners, seeks to promote gender equality and increase women's representation in leadership positions within law enforcement agencies. According to Rwanda Police, the conference was officially opened by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) DCG Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza, who represented the Rwanda Police Chief and EAPCCO Council Chair. Ujeneza emphasized that hosting the conference in Kigali marks a significant step towards implementing solutions to challenges faced by women in police leadership.
Ujeneza noted that the first phase of the project revealed obstacles faced by women in law enforcement, including limited opportunities for career advancement and leadership positions. She explained that the conference aims to develop country-specific strategies to address these challenges and promote women's empowerment in police leadership. The conference brings together police leaders to review research findings and develop practical solutions to address the challenges faced by women in law enforcement.
EAPCCO Secretary General and Interpol Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa, Apollo S. Africa, welcomed the conference's focus on implementing solutions to challenges faced by women in police leadership. He emphasized that the second phase of the project will focus on developing and implementing concrete actions to address these challenges. Africa noted that participating countries will not only discuss challenges but also develop practical actions to address them.
UNODC project expert, Tina Mykkanen, emphasized that the project's goal goes beyond increasing the number of women in law enforcement. She noted that it is essential to understand the factors that enable women to join, participate, and advance in law enforcement careers, as well as access leadership positions. Mykkanen highlighted that the first phase of the project revealed that having a sufficient number of women in law enforcement is not enough; efforts must be made to ensure their meaningful participation.
The "Empowering Every Badge" project is a regional initiative implemented by EAPCCO, UNODC, and partners, with funding from the German Government. The project aims to promote gender equality and increase women's representation in leadership positions within law enforcement agencies. Rwanda Police have expressed their support for the second phase of the project, which will focus on implementing practical solutions to address challenges faced by women in police leadership.
The conference also highlights the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among participating countries. The Rwanda Police and the Regional Centre for Excellence in Policing are expected to play a key role in facilitating training and knowledge sharing among participating countries. The conference is expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies to promote women's empowerment in police leadership in Eastern Africa.
Key points
- The conference aims to develop country-specific strategies to address challenges faced by women in law enforcement and promote their empowerment in police leadership.
- The "Empowering Every Badge" project seeks to promote gender equality and increase women's representation in leadership positions within law enforcement agencies.
- The project is implemented by EAPCCO, UNODC, and various partners, with funding from the German Government.
