40 police commanders undergo gender-based violence education

An Assistant Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, Mr Bawa Amadu, has admonished the police to do more to curb Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.

 “We have to do more to end these horrible abuses and the impunity that allows these human rights violations to continue and we believe that the enhancement of the police on high management capacities on SGBV will be a key,” he added.

Mr Amadu said this during the opening ceremony of a two-day training workshop on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and reproductive health rights for 40 divisional and district commanders of the Domestic Violence and Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Larteh in the Eastern Region on Thursday.

The programme, which was organised by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was aimed at building the capacity of the participants on gender- based violence issues in the country.

He said sexual SGBV posed significant risks to the health and well-being of women and girls, including physical injuries, psychological trauma.

“Victims of violence suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, trauma fistula, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and even death, and a violation of dignity, safety and human rights,” he added.

Mr Amadu said it was incumbent on the police, as a protection and law enforcement body, to ensure that gender-based abuses were duly dealt with, failure of which could impact negatively on the justice delivery in the country.

He assured of the UNFPA’s continuous support to the police in the elimination of sexual and gender based violence and the protection of human rights.

The Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, in her remarks, said so far the CID had provided training to 240 officers with funding from the UNFPA.

She said it was crucial for the commanders to upgrade their knowledge on domestic violence issues to supervise investigators in the discharge of their duties.

COP Addo-Danquah said people were now reporting domestic violence cases due to the public education, adding that data on such cases were captured and the necessary action taken.

The Director-General entreated the participants to work hard to reduce the menace in the country.

The Director of DOVVSU, Superintendent of Police (Supt), Evelyn Borbor, commended the UNFPA for the partnership with police over the years to ensure that the human rights of citizenry were protected.

She urged the participants to share the knowledge acquired and adhere to professional standards.

BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI