Security sector reform demands determination and sustained commitment from those in leadership. Police Commissioner Binetou Guisse—the Sénégal National Police’s first official gender focal point—is at the forefront of this reform. With support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, the Sénégal National Police is taking concrete steps to expand the meaningful deployment of uniformed women to United Nations Peace Operations. Commissioner Guisse reflects on how embedding gender equality within policing is reshaping the role of women in the security sector.
What inspired your journey into policing?
I studied law and worked for ten years in a law firm, becoming an active member of the Association of Women Lawyers of Sénégal. As a young law graduate, my goal was to make legal knowledge accessible to the community. In our daily work, we often encountered women who were survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence, and we helped them take legal action.
That experience helped me connect with survivors and advocate for stronger support systems. Being part of this change was something I had always dreamed of, and I felt that joining the police would help me live my passion. I was raised by strong women—my mother and grandmothers—who faced many challenges in their lives. I wanted to fight for a world where women and children are protected and empowered.
In 2021, I was appointed to lead a new police station in Zac Mbao, Dakar. It was designed with gender sensitivity in mind—featuring separate cells, restrooms, dedicated interview rooms for vulnerable people, and a reception and orientation office for victims of gender-based violence. This was a great model for supporting survivors of violence, and soon, I was receiving calls from across Sénégal to replicate it in other police stations.
How is the project supporting institutional reform?
When I took on the leadership of the EIF-funded project in 2021, my goal was clear: to institutionalise gender equality in the police. Thanks to the project’s support, we developed a gender policy and implementation strategy, which have now been officially validated and launched. The biggest challenge has been changing mindsets. In Sénégal, the word ‘gender’ can sometimes carry a negative—even discriminatory—connotation. Yet through awareness-raising and dialogue across the institution, perceptions are beginning to shift. Today, we even have male gender focal points in peacekeeping missions—something unthinkable just a few years ago.
Are there visible changes for uniformed women?
The impact on women in the police has been profound. Their confidence has grown—they no longer deploy to peacekeeping missions to cook. They now patrol, lead, and serve with pride. With support from the EIF, women have deployed in Gender-Strong Units (GSU) to peace operations in Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For the first time, a woman has been appointed to command a Formed Police Unit (FPU) in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). This marks a first in the history of the institution. Today, women police officers know that they have the support, coaching, and structures they can rely on. This path to progress started in 2021.
What’s next?
The Sénégal National Police has adopted a five-year strategy. We aim to increase the number of women trained and ready to contribute to global peace operations. As a leader, I use my position to continuously advocate for better working conditions, to fight harassment, and to break down stereotypes.
With the GSU premiums, we are building a childcare facility in Thiès, next to the pre-deployment training centre so breastfeeding mothers can continue their training while staying close to their children. It’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity. My message to women in policing is simple: believe in yourselves. Keep fighting for a better world. Dare to aim high.
Since 2021, the Sénégal National Police, with support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, has implemented a series of interventions to accelerate gender-responsive peacekeeping. Between 2022 and 2024 the institution deployed GSUs to MINUSMA and MONUSCO, with women’s representation at 18 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. Women deployed to these units held key leadership and operational roles, including section commanders, liaison officers, and transport officers.
