POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE From 11 to 14 December, the Mission organized a workshop on “Police Ethic and Professional Standards” for 40 police station commanders in Strumica. The aim of the event was to discuss needs to increase capacities of police personnel, while strictly adhering to principles of police professional ethics and standards. Representatives from the MoIA, as well as local and international police experts, discussed with participants some opportunities and good international practices for improving the police work in accordance with democratic principles and standards. Police station commanders actively participated in practical exercises related to communication with representatives of civil societies in addressing security related problems. Strategic Planning including Threat Assessments From 21 to 23 March, the Mission, in co-operation with the Austrian Federal Police organized a working visit for senior MoIA officials to the Federal Police of Austria, aiming at sharing experiences and elaborating best practices in strategic planning processes, and quality control of working processes, as well as inclusion of projects supported by the international stakeholders. MoIA representatives will further co-ordinate and upgrade this knowledge with the respective sectors within the Bureau of Public Security and other MoIA units dealing with preparation of the strategic plans in their respective units. From 17 to 19 October, the Mission organized the first phase of advanced training on Strategic Planning for the MoIA. In total, 20 police officers and civil servants from MoIA dealing with strategic planning attended the training. The main training objective was to enhance participants’ competencies in use of modern approaches and tools in the area of the strategic planning. The first phase of the training covered the following topics: Provision of advanced information on the elements of the Strategic Plan; prioritization and developing goals using SWOT analysis and benchmarking techniques; monitoring developed performance indicators; strategic planning - roadmap as a step-by-step implementation guide. As a follow up to the first phase, the second phase of the training was organized on 2 and 3 November. The second phase focused on preparation, implementation and evaluation of the MoIA Strategic Plans, including monitoring, implementation and evaluation of strategies’ development as well as projects of strategic and operational importance. Human Resources / Police Management From 20 November to 1 December, the Mission organized two one-week Management Techniques Training Courses for mid-level MoIA managers, each comprising of 16 participants. The courses were delivered by an international expert, covering topics such as leadership and management, strategic leadership, performance management, organiza­ tional improvement and staff development. These courses are designed to upgrade and strengthen the capacities of newly appointed Commanders, Deputy Commanders of Police Stations and Deputy Heads of SIAs within the Bureau for Public Security by providing them with contemporary management techniques for police organization. From 4 to 6 December, the Mission conducted the third and last module of management training tailored for senior managers in the Bureau for Public Security and the MoIA. The training course was delivered by an international expert and was attended by Heads of SIAs and representatives from the Border Affairs Section as well as MoIA senior managers from the Analytics Section and Human Resource Department. This particular module dealt with management and leadership, performance management and the current MoIA strategy. Gender and Ethnic Mainstreaming On 30 June and 1 July, the Mission, in co-operation with the MoIA, organized a two-day workshop in Ohrid on policing in multi-ethnic and multicultural societies. 31 front-line police officers working in Ohrid and Bitola police stations attended the event and exchanged information and experiences related to multicultural policing. The aim was to further increase participants’ awareness of cultural competence in the realm of law enforcement and cultural diversity, and explore various methods of bridging cultural barriers by building trust and rapport. On 13 and 14 July, the Mission, in co-operation with the Women’s Section of the Macedonian Police Union (MPU) and the MoIA, organized the fourth and final two-day workshop on gender-based discrimination in SIA Tetovo. 28 police officers, representing different ethnicities and working in Tetovo police stations, learned how to recognise and counter gender-based discrimination, harassment and bullying in the work place. These activities aimed at improving working conditions for women in police services and increasing gender awareness among police officers (POs). In addition, the workshops aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and efficiency of the MoIA in application of the principles of democratic policing in a multi-ethnic society. The previous three workshops were organized in SIA Bitola on 25 and 26 April for 24 POs, in SIA Ohrid on 4 and 5 May for 24 POs and on 22 and 23 May in Shtip for 26 POs from SIA Kumanovo. On 6 October, the Mission organized and participated in a panel for the selection of mentors for the Mentoring Programme in the framework of the Mission’s Gender Equality Project. The project aimed to help young police 93