Police Officers in Mbale undergo training on dealing with Gender Based Violence, Violence against children

Police officers in Mbale district have been equipped with skills to help them deal with Gender Based Violence and Violence against children cases.

15 officers are undergoing a two-day workshop spearheaded by the Head Child and Family Protection Department, SSP Moureen Atuhaire, together with a team of senior officers from the department. 

“We have decided to bring the training to Mbale specifically because it’s one of the districts in Elgon Region with the highest number of Child and Family Protection Officers that’ haven’t been inducted or trained in those fields,” SSP Atuhairesaid.

While speaking to the officers, she noted that the department was there to equip the officers with the practical skills and knowledge on how to respond to Gender Based Violence and Violence against Children cases.

“So, we are here to give you the basic skills to enable you ably do your work” she added.

SSP Atuhaire says the annual crime report placed Elgon region high as one of the districts with the most number of Gender Based Violence and violence against children cases. These cases include; cases of child neglect and defilement among others.

Speaking on the sidelines of the training, SSP Atuhaire said: “We are training them on their roles in investigating child abuse cases and domestic violence cases, children who are in conflict with the law, equipping them with knowledge on alternative care framework for the children that are abandoned or missing. We are also going to teach them about diversion guidelines which deals with those children that commit petty offenses.”

The training will be rolled throughout the country.