Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne’s Remarks at the Opening of the Women’s Police Corps Training Center

December 5, 2009 | Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Governor Sherzai, General Ahmadzai, BG Macdonald, Mr Kakar, honored guests, women police officers, families and distinguished members of the press:

I am honored to be here today to celebrate the official opening of the Women’s Police Corps Training Center in Jalalabad.  Women’s rights under Afghan law are receiving a huge boost today in the form of a new class of women police officer recruits.  This is the first Women’s Police Corps Training Center to open outside of Kabul, where training of women police recruits began about a year ago. 

An effective police force is one of the most important institutions in any country.  A police force consisting of committed and honest officers reassures citizens that security is available, that it is provided, that it is competent and honest, and that laws are applied equitably to all, regardless of their status or connections. 

Strengthening the Afghan National Police is even more important for Afghanistan today, as well as for your international partners.  President Obama said just this week, in his historic address on Afghanistan, that “We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s Security Forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul.  But it will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.” 
The opening of the Women’s Police Corps Training Center in Jalalabad moves us another step closer to achieving this goal.  This event emphasizes the success of the women recruits, as well as the need for many more, in order to assist Afghan women in exercising their rights under the law.

Promoting good governance is one of the most important challenges facing Afghanistan today.  President Karzai devoted part of his Inauguration speech on November 19 to the importance of combating corruption and “ending the culture of impunity” which has taken root in Afghanistan.  We deeply appreciate his commitment before Afghanistan and the world to improving governance in his second term.  We look forward to seeing concrete progress in this area and in fighting the cancer of corruption, and we pledge our vigorous support. 
We also appreciate the strong efforts by Minister Atmar and the Ministry of the Interior in fighting corruption.  This includes the close cooperation between the new Major Crimes Task Force and the FBI.  We are also pleased to support the Supreme Court’s Anti-Corruption Tribunal and the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Attorney General’s Office. 

To our colleagues from the Interior Ministry in Kabul, the fact that you have travelled here to be with us today underscores your commitment to building a better police force, promoting good governance, fighting corruption, and improving the role of women in Afghan society.  Thank you for your commitment.  

The Women’s Police Corps Training Center will fill a major void in Afghanistan by improving services to Afghan women, while it promotes competence and honesty in the police force and advances the critical role of women in Afghan society. 

To the women recruits here today: as you know well, women are often in vulnerable positions in Afghanistan.  The Afghan National Police is overwhelmingly male and dominated by men.  Your participation in this program is vital.  You will soon become the voices for women victims of crime in Afghanistan.  You will interview them, you will investigate cases involving them, and you will help them utilize the laws of this country to protect themselves and their families.  It is difficult to overestimate the positive role you can play in serving the half of Afghan society that has not enjoyed as much access to the police and the law enforcement system as it deserves. 

Training women police officers is but one element in the long and difficult process of empowering Afghan women and putting an end to violence against women in this country.  But it is a critical step.  Equally important is women’s rights training for male police officers, lawyers and prosecutors.  The U.S. Embassy is supporting targeted training in these areas in order to address the entire spectrum of violence against women – from police to investigators to lawyers.  It is our strongest hope that these efforts will help us all achieve a significant reduction in violence against women.

The Family Response Unit is only one of the units to which women officers are being assigned.  You serve in special counternarcotics units, you serve in the Border Police, and you serve on the President’s security detail.  Once at full staffing, there will be about 650 women in the ANP.  You are the vanguard, the pioneers, the first wave, if you will, of these women.  You are creating a path for others to follow, and what a fine example you set!

All of us here today are aware that your commitment to your country and to the women of Afghanistan involves danger.  You risk your lives every day in order to serve and protect your fellow citizens.  Afghans will be grateful to you and your families, as are we, for the role you will play. 
I would also like to recognize the families of the Women Police Corps members.  I know that your family members live with worry every day for the safety of their daughters, sisters, wives and mothers.  But I also know that your families are extremely proud of your commitment to this country.  I would like to thank your families, for their commitment as well.  The road you have chosen is not an easy one, but one that has great potential to improve the lives of Afghan women (and men) across the country.

Unfortunately, some of your fellow women police officers have paid the ultimate price.  In a few moments we will present a memorial plaque to the family of a brave senior policewoman, LTC Kakar, who was assassinated in Kandahar in September 2009.  May I request that we observe a moment of silence in memory of LTC Kakar and the other brave women who have lost their lives in the line of duty as members of the Afghan National Police.  Thank you.

Once again, congratulations and a most heartfelt thanks for your
service and dedication to your country.  All good wishes as you begin your new journey.