International conference entitled ‘Policja jest Kobietą’ (POLICE ARE WOMEN) in the Senate of the Republic of Poland to mark 100 years of women in the Police Force
On 26 February 2025, an international conference entitled ‘Policja jest Kobietą’ was held in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, marking the official inauguration of the celebrations of 100 years of women working in the Police Force. The honorary patronage of the event was taken by Ms Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Speaker of the Senate. The ceremony was also attended by Mr Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of the Internal Affairs and Administration, Mr Czesław Mroczek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Internal Affairs and Administration, Chief Superintendent Marek Boroń, Commander-in-Chief of the Police, Ms Catherine de Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, and Ms Montserrat Marin López, Executive Director of the EU Agency (CEPOL).
After the flag of the National Police Headquarters was raised and the national anthem was played by the Representative Orchestra of the Police, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Speaker of the Senate, took the floor.
‘Today, we are looking at the heroic path that Polish policewomen have paved in the history of our country. In the space of a hundred years, women in the police force have gained high qualifications, and among them are highly talented experts and investigators in many fields. Their competence should be emphasised, especially where empathy and understanding are needed. Polish policewomen can be proud to wear their uniform.
Then, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak, thanked the policewomen for their service, recognising the skills, competences and work of the female police officers.
‘The more we admire you, the more we thank you and the more we count on you to realise your goals, ambitions and dreams with the police, since you have committed your career and professional future to it,’ said the minister.
In their speeches, Europol Executive Director Catherine de Bolle and EU Agency (CEPOL) Executive Director Montserrat Marin López talked about their police experiences. The Europol director pointed out that policewomen must show resilience and courage and fight outdated stereotypes in a uniformed formation often dominated by men. The CEPOL Director noted that the biggest problem for policewomen is often the work-life balance, hence the need for training to raise awareness of the limitations and help them meet the cultural challenges.
Marek Boroń, Commander-in-Chief of the Police, addressed the gathered.
‘Over the past 100 years, the role of women in the Police has changed enormously. Currently, there are over 20,000 women serving in the Police. They carry out tasks in all divisions, also holding managerial positions. On the occasion of this special anniversary, I would like to express my highest respect and gratitude to all the ladies, policewomen and police employees for their professionalism and their enormous contribution to ensuring the safety of the citizens of our country. I wish all the ladies satisfaction in their duties, prosperity and success in their professional and private lives. I am convinced that today's event will further strengthen the position of women in the police force.
Three panels were also held during the conference.
The first, devoted to the history of women in the police force, featured a film about the most important events related to the presence of women in the Polish police force. Professor Piotr Gołdyn from the University of Kalisz described the life of Stanisława Paleolog, the first female commander of the Polish Police. Polish policewomen stood out from women's formations in other countries, among other things, because they carried weapons. They carried out investigative tasks, recruited and cooperated with informers, and interrogated pimps and prostitutes.
The commanding officer of the Police Academy in Szczytno, colonel Dr Agata Malasińska-Nagórny, compared the situation of women in the police force over the last 100 years. She pointed out the many changes that distinguish the first policewomen from their modern counterparts. The only thing that has remained the same is the requirement of good character and a minimum of secondary education.
The second panel was attended by representatives of foreign police forces, including Lithuania, Estonia, France, Sweden and Dubai. The conference participants learnt how many women serve in the police forces of other countries, what their salaries, positions and promotion paths are. They emphasised that women in the police force increase trust in the organisation, have a positive impact on social cohesion, mitigate unrest and shape cultural diversity.
The last panel, entitled ‘Women are the future of the Police’, was a meeting of experts presenting their perception of the Police and women in this formation. It was attended by the Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, the Provincial Police Commander in Opole, colonel Magdalena Nguyen-Fudala, academic lecturer, academic lecturer colonel Kornela Oblińska, PhD (retired), writer Katarzyna Dacyszyn, teacher Paweł Raczyński, actress Katarzyna Ucherska, rapper, poet, philosopher Mikołaj Mądrzyk.
The conference was accompanied by an exhibition of historical photographs recalling the events of the last century. Policewomen from the Police Representative Company and schoolgirls from the uniformed police classes performed a parade drill demonstration, followed by a performance by the Police Representative Orchestra.
This year marks 100 years since women served in the Polish Police. In 1925, the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Cyryl Ratajski, ordered the creation of a women's police force. Subsequently, a specialised course for 30 policewomen began at the National Police Headquarters, covering in particular the issues of combating pimping and human trafficking.
