By James Innocent
More than 20 police officers and other protection personnel have completed a Trainer of Trainers (TOT) program on gender-based violence (GBV) in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State.
The training was conducted by UNMISS and UNPOL, with participation from officials of the National Police Service.
James Dak Karlo, Director of the Special Protection Unit, stated that the training involved over 20 participants from the police and the gender counseling unit, primarily at Yei’s main civil hospital.
Most participants were from the police, with a few from a one-stop center, aiming to equip the TOT group with full certificates.
Karlo emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based violence in the country despite the challenges faced by law enforcement.
“The training focuses on GBV-related issues affecting the community, and it lasted ten days, concluding on Saturday evening,” he noted.
Rune Engevik, a representative from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, remarked at the conclusion of the training that this initiative marks not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter for equipping police officers with essential skills and responsibilities.
He praised the TOT graduates for their commitment during the ten-day program, enabling them to train others in various police units.
Dusman Florence Alison, a midwife at the Yei one-stop center and one of the participants, expressed gratitude to UNMISS and UNPOL for their support during the training.
She highlighted that they handle numerous GBV-related issues in the community and, with their newly acquired knowledge, they plan to educate others about these critical matters.
Joseph Asega, a participant, appealed to all partners to support the trained police officers with necessary tools, such as computers, to help them compile and address gender-based violence issues effectively.
He encouraged all participants to apply their knowledge in practice to enhance the capacity of the police across the county.