Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni today applauded the growing number of women serving in the Fiji Police Forces.
“There used to be no women in the Fiji Police Force in the 60s and early 70s but today there are 740 female officers out of the 3875 police officers in the Fiji Police Force,” Dr Luveni said.
Fiji Police Academy Commandant Vilisi Misiamete told the minister that there are currently 28 women officers in the Inspector level, 35 in the Sergeants level, 65 in Corporals and 612 in the subordinates level.
“Because of the skills knowledge and abilities, 3 senior officers have also attended overseas trainings in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, India, China,” Misiamete said.
The minister was also told that 69 female officers in the Force have also been posted on overseas peace keeping missions.
“Female officers serving in Liberia has been recently praised and recognized for their tireless work in the community there”, she said.
Dr Luveni also told female officers that 49 percent of Fiji’s population are female according to the 2007 census.
“We need to narrow the gap between man and women in development. Fiji today is in a much better position listed 87th in the human development index of developing countries in the world today before we used to be in the 90th position.”
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