SPF Officers Undertake Training on Sexual, Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection

Forty Somali Police Force (SPF) officers today began a two-weeks training course on Sexual, Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Child Protection aimed at enhancing protection of women and children in the country against all forms of abuse.

The training conducted at the General Kahiye Police Academy is organized by the SPF with support from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police unit and was opened by the SPF Deputy Commissioner Brig. Gen. Mukhtar Afrah and the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner Christine Alalo.

Similar trainings have also begun today, targeting police officers under the Interim South West Administration and Hiran region.

Speaking at the launch of the training, Lt. Col. Fadumo Hassan Mohamed, the Head of the SPF Community Policing unit said the training is timely and that the officers upon completion of the course will be deployed as gender desk officers at various police stations in the city and in different parts of the country, providing avenues for the public and victims to report cases of abuse. Upon deployment, the officers will work alongside AMISOM Police mentors at the various police stations.

“We are here for gender training which will continue for 15 days. We will be trained to increase awareness of rape. 40 police officers both men and women are attending the training and will be deployed as gender desk officers at police stations. They are drawn from Criminal Investigations Department, Police Headquarters and other departments,” Lt. Col Fadumo Hassan Mohamed said.

Christine Alalo, the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner said the training is part of wider effort by AMISOM to build the capacity of the SPF and in this case, to tackle the vice of abuse against women and children.

“This is one of AMISOM’s programmes to train the SPF officers, a special group to manage cases of gender based violence and cases of children in particular. This group here will look at a number of issues that affect children. Remember that at police stations, we cannot run away from children, women and vulnerable groups because they are part of our day to day work, either as victims or the accused persons,” Christine Alalo, the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner said adding that several other such trainings are in the offing.

Lt. Idil Hassan Mohamed, the Head of Gender in the SPF noted that the training, the first of its kind will go a long way in tackling sexual and gender based violence and child abuse cases, given the gravity of the matter.

“It is very serious. Unfortunately we have a culture that does not encourage people to report. These cases do happen but are always hidden. There is not that much awareness to encourage people to report and even the people to handle the cases after they have been reported.  These things are missing. The violence is there but handling it is what is missing as well as making people aware that it (SGBV) is not something to hide,” Lt. Idil Hassan Mohamed, the head of Gender in the SPF said.