In 1972, Kiran Bedi was the first woman in India to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service (IPS) — a first of many firsts in her career˳ From running non-profit organisations (NGOs) to heading police units, and crushing opponents on the tennis court, Kiran Bedi aces it all˳ Shortly after joining the IPS, Bedi won the President’s Police Medal in 1979˳ The reforms she introduced in the prison sector as Inspector General in Delhi won her the Ramson Magsaysay award in 1994˳
Inspiring generations of women, Kiran Bedi became the first Indian and first woman appointed as the United Nations Police Adviser and head of the Police Division in 2003˳
UN Peacekeeping and UN Police interviewed Ms˳ Bedi during Women’s History Month (March) to find out more about what drives her and her message for young women today˳
“At that time, I didn’t know that I was going to be the first woman in India to join the police officer ranks of the Indian Police Service˳ I didn’t join to be the first˳ I became the first, it happened to be like that,” she said˳ It took Bedi’s impeccable self-discipline and resilience to succeed˳
As a young woman living in a changing India in the 50’s and 60’s, Bedi wanted to fight injustice and empower others˳ Policing was one way of ensuring that the law applies to all, making an example of Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to whom she famously issued a parking ticket˳
“I would tell women [wanting to join] law enforcement to be prepared for what they want˳ Educate, train, and play competitive sports as in school˳ Plan and choose a career, and keep upskilling˳”
“Women are specially gifted˳ (˳˳) They forge teamwork wherever they go, they add compassion in workplaces˳ (…) Remain courageous and remain fearless˳”
Bedi was a trailblazer, but UNPOL is determined to ensure that she doesn’t remain an exception˳
“Today you can’t do any policing without women˳ I think the credit for this goes to the United Nations exclusively˳ All (the) conventions have secured the position of a woman, highlighted her role,” she said, attributing her own appointment to the landmark UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)˳
It is the first resolution that recognized women’s leadership to achieve international peace and security and their contributions to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding˳ The implementation of women, peace and security priorities is a key political commitment in the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, which also called for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in peacekeeping operations˳ Promoting the participation of women, both in peacekeeping and within the societies in which we serve, is at the centre of UN efforts˳
On that front, UNPOL, is a trailblazer as well˳ Its uniformed gender parity strategy (2018-2028) is making headway: UN Police has already achieved the gender parity objectives slated for 2025, with women making up 30% of uniformed police personnel˳ While Bedi was a pioneer, many women have now reached top positions within UNPOL as police commissioners and senior police advisers˳ As mentioned by United Nations Police Adviser and Director of the Police Division, Police Commissioner Luís Carrilho, during a Facebook live event that marked International Women’s Day: “(We) are firmly committed to advancing gender equality˳ I am proud to say that six out of the nine heads of police components are currently senior women police officers˳”
In addition to dedication and perseverance, Kiran Bedi also acknowledges the role played by her family in her success˳ Growing up in a supportive environment, she had the full backing of her family to pursue the career of her choice˳ Today, she wants to channel the same energy into supporting future generations˳
“I will do whatever it takes to inspire the youth to be responsible citizens and leaders in nation-building,” she says˳
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