POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE health problems. In line with the requirements and needs of the police, the course included lessons on identifying the signs and symptoms of the most common mental illnesses, developing an understanding of mental health issues by first responders, competencies in interviewing and communicating with mentally ill persons, and verbal and nonverbal communication techniques to assist in controlling the situation. A specific focus was given to improving skills and procedures for interactions with and controlling mentally ill and emotionally disturbed persons, in accordance with the proportionate force continuum response, whilst also upholding human rights. From 19 to 23 September, the Mission provided training on the administration and management of personnel records to 25 representatives of the KP, PIK, Kosovo Agency on Forensic (KAF) and KAPS. The training focused on the importance of accurate personnel recordkeeping and best international public administration practices, thus equipping participants with knowledge on compiling, maintaining, storing and archiving the personnel records of their agencies’ staff. Moreover, an emphasis was placed on local legislation pertaining to personnel records, data management and protection, electronic information management and sharing of information. In co-operation with representatives from the PIK and the KP PSD, in September and October, the Mission facilitated additional eight roundtables on police rights for around 160 officers from all police regions. These sessions provided police managers with a platform for discussion about the difficulties and issues that officers are facing in relation to public complaints and internal investigation, with a special emphasis on their impact on promotions. As a result of these roundtables, several recommendations were made, including the need to establish an internal mechanism for legal representation available to all officers, as well as a provision for legal counselling to officers under investigation. On 7 December, the Mission supported the revision of the KP Human Resource Strategy 2016-2020, which was originally developed with extensive contributions from the Mission. The review served to measure the progress achieved in this crucial area during 2016, and at the same time to identify issues that need to be addressed or amended. The working groups consisted of 20 members representing the MoIA, KP, including members of the Association of Kosovo Police Women (AKPW), and the KAPS, alongside the Mission and ICITAP. From 13 to 15 December, the Mission delivered organizational change training to 21 senior KP officers, which aimed at preparing them for future potential police reforms. This practically oriented course acquainted the senior officers with knowledge and skills on how to facilitate an organizational change process; focusing on topics such as leadership and management, organizational performance management, specific types of organizational change, change management strategies, and managing resistance to organizational change. The training was in line with the Mission-supported KP Human Resources Strategy, and also serves the strategic objective of the KP regarding the early retirement policy for its police officers. Gender and Ethnic Mainstreaming The Mission supported the KP, KAPS and the AKPW in integrating the promotion of gender equality into the organizational culture and in fostering diversity. Targeted gender sensitive trainings and capacity-building activities contributed to an increase in the ratio of women and representatives of non-Albanian communities in the KP. From 13 to 16 April, the Mission facilitated a workshop and provided its expertise in finalizing the Development Strategy and Action Plan of the AKPW. The workshop hosted 23 members of the AKPW covering all police regions, senior police managers and representatives from other relevant KP units, along with their international partners who will assist in the implementation of the strategy. The Strategy and the associated Action Plan 2016-2018, will primarily serve as an instrument to strengthen the role and position of women in the KP. It will also support them in creating affirmative policies to increase the number of women in police, prevent or eliminate discriminatory acts, and promote gender equality and professional career development to respond to the needs of women in police. From 4 May to 16 May, the Mission facilitated eight advocacy workshops for around 160 participants, including members of the AKPW and other women in police interested in joining the Association. These advocacy meetings were organized in order to broaden the participants’ knowledge about the role and activities of the AKPW in increasing the number of women in police. The regional KP directors and highranking officers from eight police regions3 also attended the meetings and expressed their concrete support for the AKPW and police women employees, thus acknowledging the importance of gender-responsive policing and gender mainstreaming. During the workshops, board members of the AKPW also introduced a new development strategy, which paves the way forward in preparing women to assume greater roles and responsibilities in the police organization. 3 Regional KP directorates: Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, Pejë/Peć, Gjakovë/Djakovica, Prizren, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Prishtinë/ Priština. 57