Afghan Policewomen Brave Threats to Complete Course

KANDAHAR CITY, AFGHANISTAN

08.05.2010

Story by Chief Petty Officer Brian Brannon 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KANDAHAR CITY, Afghanistan – Despite threats from the Taliban intended to bully them into quitting, a group of 12 female Afghan National Police officers graduated from an innovative law enforcement training course on Aug. 5 at Camp Nathan Smith.

One of the graduates works in the Crimes Against Women Branch of the ANP in Kandahar. She said that it’s time to bring cruelty and mistreatment of Afghan females to an end.

“The main goal of the courses and all that we have learned is to return the rights of the women in Kandahar Province and give them all the respect that they deserve,” she said.

The Afghan Ministry of the Interior selected a course called Self-Security Awareness developed in Kabul by the Norwegian Police and worked with ANP instructors and the Canadian Civil Police to introduce it to Kandahar. The course includes instruction on law and order, self-defense, baton defense, and small arms familiarization.

Norwegian Police Superintendent Havard Fallar said that seeing the women work through the course left a lasting impression on him.

“These females are the toughest policewomen in the world,” he said. “Even with the threats, they’re going to work and do their best. No one else in the world has these threats; these are real threats.”

ANP Brig. Gen. Dastgier Mayar, the warden of Sarposa Prison in Kandahar City, spoke at the graduation. He said that after touring correctional facilities in other countries and seeing equal numbers of women working alongside men, it has been his dream to see the same thing happen in Afghanistan. For him, the graduation ceremony was a historic event.

“Honestly, this is a day full of honor for me and for Afghanistan,” he said.

ANP Major Sher Ali Khan Farhad, director of the Kandahar Criminal Investigation Division, commended the women for their courage and resolve on behalf of all the policemen in his district.

“I strongly believe that our woman officers are committed to their jobs,” he said. “They are very brave and I strongly believe that they will fulfill their commitment and their promise to the people of Kandahar.”

While Afghan instructors worked directly with the students, Canadian police officers acted as mentors and advisors to the instructors. Jess Dutton, who heads the civilian component of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, said the Afghan policewomen are fundamental to the security of the province.

“I am convinced with the training you have received the past few weeks, you will work very hard to make the streets of Kandahar safer for everyone,” he said.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2010
• Date Posted: 08.05.2010 16:32
• Story ID: 54026
• Location: KANDAHAR CITY, AF