Police Officers commence training on Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence

Feb 10, 2017 News

The Ministry of Social Protection with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has developed a National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Acts; which is

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally seated in the centre with participants at the training.

currently being reviewed by the newly resuscitated National Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Violence (NTFPSV) and other key stakeholders.
This Plan of Action is guided by the Sexual Offences Act of 2010 and the Domestic Violence Act of 1996.
An opening ceremony on the Police Officers’ Training on Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence was held yesterday at the Guyana Police Force Training College, Eve Leary Georgetown.
Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally said yesterday at the opening ceremony, “This occasion today signals a major step that will be taken to further build the capacity of the Guyana Police Force in handling sensitive cases of victims who have been violated in one of the most inhumane ways imaginable.
“Violence against women is a violation of victims’ freedom, dignity, safety, human rights and must be condemned in all its form particularly domestic and sexual violence,”
Minister Ally said that it is often seen as a private matter, something that goes on behind closed doors. However it is not; it is a crime, it is a public and even political issue and we as a nation have a responsibility to protect the victims and facilitate in the prosecution of perpetrators, she added.
Guyana’s fight against domestic violence has been further intensified with the publication and application of the training manual. “I am confident that it will enhance the skills and capacity of Police Officers handling Sexual and Domestic Violence”, Ally said.
The creation of the protocol is another step taken by the administration to ensure that the Police Department has the adequate resources or knowledge needed to get the job done.
“I believe that the capacity of Police officers to carry out their roles is enhanced when they understand the impact of any form of violence against women and children”, the Minister concluded.
During the period February to March 2017 the Ministry of Social Protection will be conducting a series of training on the aforementioned protocols with various ranks across the Guyana Police Force. The first round of training was scheduled for yesterday, at the Guyana Police Force’s Training College (Camp Street).
Protocols for Police Officers among other professionals were therefore developed by the Ministry of Social Protection with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Protocols are designed to equip Police Officers with the necessary guidelines and procedures required to improve their overall response to the needs of victims of sexual violence. These include but are not to be limited to conducting professional interviews with the victims; providing effective referrals to various institutions that provide support and give assistance to victims (e.g. medical attention, counselling etc.); paper committals during trials.
In March 1999 the first batch of twenty three participants with members from the Guyana Police Force, were trained Under the Human Rights Campaign to fight domestic violence.

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