TV Report on Women Training in the Lebanese Police Force

Following are excerpts from a TV report on women joining the Lebanese police force, which aired on the Al-Jazeera network on May 21, 2012.

Footage from ceremony, showing formation of policewomen

Reporter: In a ceremony held in Dhbaye, Lebanon, a group of women who joined the internal security force show-cased the skills they acquired in the course of their lengthy training. Until recently, the 25,000-strong police force included only two women.

The 600 women in this force began training in March, and they face another four months of training.

The program is supervised by an American delegation, and its goal is to establish a female police force, which would take part in protecting the borders and maintaining local security.

US State Department official Todd Robinson: I think it really goes toward cementing the partnership between the US and Lebanon. Once the program was launched, the Lebanese took over the training, and they will continue the work. And I think that is a really good message.

Footage of the women training

Reporter: The skills the women are acquiring will allow them to work in police stations, where they will issue reports, especially with regard to domestic violence. They will also be able to participate in investigations, arrests, and patrols.

Major Susan Al-Hajj Hbeish is one of the two female instructors of this unit.

Police office Major Susan Al-Hajj Hbeish: The goal is to implement the principle of equality, in accordance with the Lebanese constitution.

Reporter: Many of the trainees wear the hijab, but Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has said that the law forbids police personnel from displaying any religious symbols. He said that he hoped that once they had completed the course, they would be sent to do administrative work, but this has not yet been determined.

The most important thing, in the eyes of many, is that the women have proven, in the course of their training, that they are capable of doing the same things as men.

Trainee: We are training very intensively, so that when we are out there, the citizens will trust that we will provide them with the same protection as men.

Footage of the women training

Reporter: Despite their enthusiasm, some of the women are concerned that once their training is over and they begin duty, they will face the opposition of those who do not have faith in their capabilities or who judge things by different criteria.

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