RAMALLAH, June 19, 2012 (WAFA) - EUPOL COPPS jointly with the Palestinian Civilian Police gender unit, awarded chief of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Major General Hazem Attallah with the annual gender award, an EUPOL COPPS press release said on Tuesday.

It said Attallah was awarded due to his strong commitment in promoting gender inside the Palestinian police, within the security sector and among the other police organizations in the Arab region

The award was given in the presence of the PCP gender advisor, Major Wafa Suleiman, chief of PCP secretariat Lieutenant Colonel Tareq Dawabshah, the EUPOL COPPS head of the Police Advisory Section and the EUPOL COPPS police gender advisor Michael Haliti.

“I will keep modernizing my organization to have policemen and policewomen working hand in hand. This is crucial in order to provide the needed security for all Palestinian citizens. This balanced model of police integration allows us to be more effective and professional in policing and it sets a very good example for our partners in the Arab world,” stated Attallah.

“EUPOLCOPPS mission is supporting of gender operational activities within the PCP. Just to give a few examples: the last PCP recruitment included 10% of female. Gender is integrated in various trainings and media activities. A female unit was integrated into the Special Police Force (SPF) and not to forget to mention the projects on gender based violence,” underlined Haliti.

“It is well known that the chief of the PCP is promoting gender in important police and security sector platforms at the strategic level, he shows accountability and is committed,” said the EUPOLCOPPS police gender advisor.

R.Q./M.S.