Greetings one and all,
Its been a long time since Durban 2013, but I hope you enjoyed the photos here and in the magazine. First conference with over 1000 delegates as well as the first time in Africa. An enormous privilege to attend, participate and experience. Europe was definitely present with delegates from the UK - including four IAWP Award recipients, Germany, Albania, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Well done for making the lengthy journey. Now we aim for Winnipeg at the end of September. I know I've said it before, but if you've never been to conference before please make the effort to come along. Its not just first class training, but the opportunity to network as well as sightsee.
The biggest change for IAWP happens this year with the change from 18 to 26 regions. This will effect Europe as we are to be split into three regions: basically the north, west and east. Jane is looking for two new coordinators to run these until the 2015 elections when we vote for all the new regional coordinators. Then people can stand for a region or other Board post if interested. However there are qualifications such as having a minimum of two years membership. I won't be standing again so all three European posts will be up for offer. I can give you information about being a coordinator if you are interested.
Cardiff 2015 is well under way with the planning. Insp Nicky Flowers from South Wales Police is leading a great team, some of whom came to Durban, but more will be coming to Canada as we will be running a host evening and the stall in the exhibition area. See the websites for more details:
CARDIFF - www.iawp2015.org
WINNIPEG - www.iawp2014.org
If you have any ideas for training in Cardiff, please send me details - julia@iawp2015.org . We are already looking at bringing in new topics and speakers. All suggestions gratefully received.
In March we have IAWP participating for the first time in the UN's Commission for the Security of Women. President Jane Townsley, 2nd Vice President Stephanie Harding and I with the Committee of the UK branch of the UN Women Association are running a seminar on Policewomen working internationally as a side event. This is a great honour to be asked to participate as many, many groups apply to participate. So to be asked at our first attempt is amazing. We are hoping to have a social event with members from Region 2 as well. The date is 12th March at the Armenian Centre in New York. SO please come if you are in town then!
Later we have the Early Board Meeting in Las Vegas from 22nd and 23rd March. If you have any items you want bringing to the Board attention, please forward to me ASAP. The local region are following on with a 2 day regional training conference. All this takes place in the Gold Coast Hotel. Full details on http://www.iawp.org/training/march2014.
Next deadline for magazine articles is 1st February. Not long, but any ideas as well as your own writings are welcome. Just write to me or to Simon Townsley (editor) and copy to me. His email is scmtownsley@blueyonder.co.uk . Any other news can be included in the blog - just send it to me.
Don't forget to look at the website and the firsst two IAWP resolutions that are being publicised - our stance on human trafficking and female genital mutilation. These are important stances and the tragic effects they have on people world wide are becoming more and more evident. Lets support IAWP and the fight against both.
In the UK together with BAWP we've also been working with a TV researcher to put together sufficient material for a documentary on the history of UK Policewomen., We celebrate a 100 years of British Policewomen in 2015 as well as IAWP's centenary and it would be fantastic of this project goes ahead. In March BAWP launches Gender Agenda 3, the third part of a project maximising women in the UK Police. Many people know of 1 and 2 because I as well as jane and Carol Thomas, have spoken about it and seen other countries such as WPON in South East Europe develop their own Gender Agenda. We will pubilicise its findings after the launch.
Congratulations to the European Network of Policewomen for re-launching and getting a new President - Montserrat Pina MartÃnez from Barcelona Local Police. The website is www.enp.nl. They hope to celebrate 25 years of ENP in September this year.
I hope this is all of interest to you, but I'd love to include your news too. So please send me items to include or publicise. Best Wishes for 2014 and hope to see you in Winnipeg.
Julia Jaeger
Region 13 coordinator
