Friday, April 19, 2013

SPRING 2013 Update

Greetings from Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Yes I know its not Europe, but I am here with the IAWP Board for this year's Early Board meeting(s).  Most of the Board are attending and those who have already arrived are on a coach trip with Patsy and some of the Trinidad & Tobago Women Police Association members.  A few like me are still in the hotel preparing for the Board meetings starting tomorrow.

Here's a brief overview of European news since my last entry.  Kosovo are waiting for the official registration process of their Association of Women Police to be completed and then they will arrange a launch ceremony.  Excellent news as this will help raise their roles, status and careers in the Kosovo Police.  Many thanks to UN Women Kosovo for setting up this project.

Hannover, Germany hosted a mini conference again led by Heike Rothenburger, local Police chaplain. So good to meet new delegates from Germany as well as Estonia, UK and Kyrgysztan.  They must have the bug for conferences as talk is of a future bid to host the IAWP conference there.  Wow, another European bid?  Special mention of Jutta Baumgarten, former region Coordinator, who travelled all the way from Afghanistan to be present.  That is dedication!

Cardiff 2015 are busy planning ahead for our centenary conference.  As a practise run, we are hosting the British Association of Women in Policing annual Awards as a luncheon on June 11th.  Followed by a mini-Professional Development Conference.  A great day to recognise the excellent work of our UK winners, of whom half come from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.  Their dedication and achievements are amazing.

Are you planning to come to Durban in September?  Don't be shy, everyone has a first conference, but its always an amazing experience.  A senior officer from the UK attending last year's as a speaker, tolf =d me he had never been to a conference like it because it so impressed him.  looking forward to seeing you in durban hopefully.

Julia