den Boer, Monica; Hufnagel, Saskia --- "Policing and society: a legal perspective on gender in police organizations" [2018] ELECD 1328; in den Boer, Monica (ed), "Comparative Policing from a Legal Perspective" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 346

Book Title: Comparative Policing from a Legal Perspective

Editor(s): den Boer, Monica

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781785369100

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Policing and society: a legal perspective on gender in police organizations

Author(s): den Boer, Monica; Hufnagel, Saskia

Number of pages: 17

Abstract/Description:

Women are gradually acquiring a more prominent position in the criminal justice chain, and females in senior police leadership positions may have a positive effect as role models. Currently however, the number of female officers in public police forces around the world is rather marginal, despite diversity management policies and legislation. Starting from the assumption that the growing complexity of societies amidst a process of globalization demands more diversity in police forces, several strategies and instruments have been developed to recruit, integrate and retain female police officers. Gender diversity is one of the main preconditions for achieving social legitimacy and public consent. This chapter addresses the global implementation and impact of legislative frameworks. After discussing a range of legislative instruments and regulatory activities by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union and other bodies, the authors conclude that the impact of the law tends to be limited: except non-discrimination legislation, binding international legislation for gender balance in public police organizations seems to be absent.