EAPCCO Launched Meetings on Police Gender Equality
Member states gathered in Rwanda for a four-day meeting to address gender disparities within police institutions.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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Police officials from the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) convened in Kacyiru to discuss strategies for promoting gender equality. The meeting marks the second phase of the Empowering Every Badge project aimed at increasing female representation.
Why it matters
A preliminary assessment highlighted significant challenges for regional security forces, including recruitment, career advancement, and a lack of female leadership. Addressing these gaps is seen as essential to strengthening institutional capabilities.
The meeting spans a duration of four days at the Rwanda National Police headquarters. Assessment data points to systemic gaps in recruitment, retention, and female leadership within the regional security sector.
The players
Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza
DCG Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza is a high-ranking official who opened the four-day meeting at the Rwanda National Police headquarters.
Apollo Sendahangarwa
Apollo Sendahangarwa serves as the EAPCCO Secretary and participated in the gender equality deliberations.
Tina Mykkanen
Tina Mykkanen is a UNODC expert who attended the regional police summit.
The details
The Empowering Every Badge project is being implemented in distinct phases to analyze and address institutional barriers for women. Officials are deliberating on how to boost female participation across various units, including special operations such as those stationed in Nyamata.
Timeline
September 21, 2026: Meeting participants convened in Kacyiru.
Culture Shift
The push for gender parity in policing represents a broader global shift toward integrating diverse leadership into traditionally male-dominated security institutions. This follows the framework set by the Empowering Every Badge project to actively dismantle systemic career advancement barriers.
The outcomes of this meeting could lead to revised recruitment and career advancement policies that directly affect how female officers enter and rise within the police ranks. These changes aim to reshape the daily professional environment and leadership structure of regional security forces.
The takeaway
Advancing gender equality in the police force requires addressing systemic hurdles like career progression and leadership representation. By implementing targeted phases of analysis, security institutions aim to create more inclusive paths for women in uniform.
Further reading
For broader context on international initiatives, visit the /lifestyle/culture/womens-issues/ section.
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Do you believe police departments should prioritize increasing the number of women in senior leadership roles?
