North Wales Police has marked International Women’s Day by holding an awareness session for staff and officers at Force Headquarters in Colwyn Bay.
The Women Association of North Wales Police (WANWP) arranged the informal session to coincide with International Women’s Day – a day aimed at celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
Each year around the world, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments and women’s groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
The theme this year was ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities, Progress for all’ with an informal awareness session at the canteen.
Detective Inspector Kelly Isaacs from the Women’s Association of North Wales Police said: “This was a good opportunity to get together with officers and staff to highlight how women have progressed in the police service over the years.
“We had quite a busy morning with lots of people taking the opportunity to network amongst each other. The feedback has been great and we hope to do something similar in the near future.”
Posters with a time line of women’s progress in the police service were also on display at the canteen. Tea, coffee and cakes were served with donations going towards Aberconwy Women’s Aid.
DI Isaacs added: “The Women’s Association would like to extend their thanks to everyone who attended and would especially like to thank canteen staff in the force headquarters for their support. Almost £70 was raised for Aberconwy Women’s Aid which is fantastic as it’s such a worthy cause.”
The photograph shows from left to right: Janet Saavedra (Aberconwy Women’s Aid), PC Claire Reynolds and DI Kelly Isaacs (North Wales Police), Lynn Williams and Fiona Clarke (Aberconwy Women’s Aid).
- In 1936 there were just 175 women police officers in England and Wales.
- In March 2009: 36,187 of the 144,274 officers in England and Wales are female (25.1%).
- North Wales 2009/10 – 26.94% of officers are female and 46.9% of officer recruits are female.
- 2011 will see the global centenary year for International Women’s Day – 100 years since International Women’s Day was marked for the first time where more than one million women and men attended rallies.
- Further information regarding Women’s Day is available at: www.internationalwomensday.com
