Syria's first women graduate from new police academy

Around 150 women have graduated from Syria's new police academy, boosting efforts to rebuild security forces and increase women’s role in policing.

Around 150 women have graduated from Syria's new police academy in Al-Tal, north of Damascus, after six months of training.

The ceremony shows them marching and performing exercises.

The course covered military and physical skills, as well as police procedures, law and field work.

The academy is part of efforts by Syria's new authorities to rebuild the security forces and increase the role of women in policing.

One graduate, 22-year-old May Aklajneh, says becoming a policewoman was a childhood dream and that she joined as soon as recruitment opened.

The first cohort is expected to join Interior Ministry units across the country.