Jubbaland police officers undergo training on gender-based violence

Jubbaland police officers have completed a six-day training course on sexual gender-based violence organized by AMISOM Gender Unit in conjunction with Somali Police Force (SPF).

The training, which also focused on human rights and child protection, was aimed at creating awareness against gender-based violence among law enforcement officers.

It was conducted by AMISOM Police Training Coordinator, Francis Aryee, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Lydia Otu-Nyarko and officials from AMISOM Gender Unit.

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been at the forefront of helping SPF establish gender departments to fight violence against women and children, which is rife in some parts of the country.

Jubbaland Police Commissioner, Lt. Colonel Hassan Kheyre Ahmed, thanked AMISOM for organizing the training.

“I am so glad Jubbaland police officers, comprising five men and five women have been taught about human rights issues and sexual and gender-based violence. I am also happy that AMISOM has donated equipment to the Jubbaland administration,” said Lt. Col. Ahmed.

Ms Otu-Nyarko, who is also a Gender Officer, said participants were taught various topics, among them, types of sexual gender-based violence, child abuse and how to handle under-age criminals. The participants were also taught how to prepare for a court case and how to manage court files.

Cases of child abuse are rife in Somalia due to Al-Shabaab militants who conduct forced recruitment of child soldiers in various parts of Somalia. Early this year, Puntland forces captured a group of child soldiers who had been conscripted by Al-Shabaab to fight the regional administration. The children said some of them were forced to join the group, while others reported that were lured through false promises of better life.

Apart from training, the AMISOM officers also donated an assortment of office equipment, among them, tables, chairs, printer, photocopying machine, desktop computer, laptop and cameras.

“We are giving them the equipment to enable them work effectively at the gender desk which we are going to establish at the central police station’’ Ms Otu-Nyarko added.

Nadifa Horow Ibrahim, one of the Jubbaland police officers who participated in the training, thanked AMISOM for organizing the function, adding that she had learnt a lot about gender-based violence.