Police work in Kosovo has been primarily seen as a man’s job. In 2010, only 12.5 per cent of Kosovo Police officers were women, and more than twice as many women (33 per cent) left the force after joining, compared to men (14 per cent) [1].

Low salaries and harsh conditions are often attributed to the low number of women in the police force [2], but prevailing gender stereotypes create additional barriers.

“When we first joined the police, there was only small number of women, and there was prejudice, stereotypes and mistrust. Women in the police force were expected to demonstrate their capacity much more than men in order to be successful,” recalls Colonel Taibe Canolli, President of the Association of Women in the Kosovo Police (AWKP).

Image: Colonel Taibe Canolli, Director of Personnel and Administration and President of the Association of Women in the Kosovo Police. Photo: UN Women Kosovo/Solène Moutier