Empowering Every Badge

Transforming gender dynamics in law enforcement in Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa continues to face significant threats posed by transnational organized crime, sexual and gender-based violence, violent extremism, and terrorism which all disproportionately affect women and girls. Simultaneously, senior and decision-making roles in criminal justice and law enforcement institutions remain overwhelmingly inaccessible to women, negatively impacting women’s participation in peace and security at large.

To address these challenges, UNODC is leading the project ‘Empowering Every Badge’, which aims to enhance gender parity and the role of women in law enforcement in order to enhance gender sensitive responses to these threats, to promote gender equality, foster community trust in law enforcement, and to ultimately, strengthen operational effectiveness. This project is jointly implemented by UNODC in partnership with UN Women and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) and is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Launch of the project "Empowering Every Badge" Kigali, Rwanda, September 2024

Through this project:

challenges experienced by female law enforcement officers in women’s representation in law enforcement in Eastern Africa are addressed by dismantling structural barriers and gender biases, creating supportive and inclusive environments;
women in law enforcement and criminal justice institutions have greater capacity to advance to senior positions, with increased participation and enabling environments for female officers – including by tackling harmful stereotypes and engaging men as allies. This will enhance operational effectiveness of law enforcement to, in collaboration with communities, better detect, prevent, and investigate transnational organized crime, sexual and gender-based violence, terrorism and related cases;
awareness and attractiveness of law enforcement careers is increased to support the access of female officers to senior positions.

Ultimately, the project will create a more inclusive and effective criminal justice system in Eastern Africa, contributing to regional stability, gender equality, and the protection of human rights.

News from Project Implementation

A Portrait of Strength from Seychelles

UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa through the Empowering Every Badge project is proud to present a series of video portraits that showcase women serving different capacities in law enforcement across Eastern Africa. These Women are proof that having more women in law enforcement can have a positive impact on the communities they serve.

This is Margerat Thelemaque’s story.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime