Ban calls for more women U.N. police

UNITED NATIONS, June 4 (UPI) -- The U.N. leader in New York Friday called for more women police officers in U.N. peacekeeping missions.

Speaking at an event aimed at increasing the number of female officers in U.N. policing ranks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told member nations women and girls in countries where U.N. peacekeeping missions are sent "know they will find a sympathetic ear" with women officers.

Ban said in a news release female peacekeepers also serve as role models for women, inspiring them to join their national police forces.

"Women bring an essential extra dimension" to the task of bringing peace and stability to nations recovering from conflict, he said. "Let us commit to give women the power to empower."

Ban cited a decade-old Security Council resolution that stressed the importance of giving women equal participation and full involvement in peace and security matters and the need to increase their role in decision-making.

Women now make up 8 percent of the more than 13,000-member U.N. police force comprised of officers from at least 84 countries. The organization's goal is 20 percent by 2014.

Noting "no society has 92 percent men and 8 percent women," U.N. Police Adviser Ann-Marie Orler encouraged nations to nominate more women to police positions in peacekeeping operations. She called on U.N. members to review their recruitment standards to ensure women are not "unduly restricted" from applying.