by Abdi
MOGADISHU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has concluded a three-day training for police officers on sexual and gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence to help tackle the vice in Somalia.
A statement from UNSOM said the training which ended late on Tuesday is aimed at raising awareness among security officers on the dangers of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and conflict-related sexual violence.
The workshop, organized in conjunction with the state's Ministry of Women and Human Rights, brought together 54 officers who also received training on human rights and how to protect the civil liberties of vulnerable populations.
UNSOM Human Rights Team Leader in Baidoa, Charles Muwunga Mwebe, said the workshop aims at strengthening the capacity of the South West police in dealing with crime, while at the same time protecting individual rights.
"Police have a duty to promote and protect human rights, but when it comes to issues of women, we feel that they have a duty to protect the women regardless of where they are." Mwebe said.
The Horn of Africa nation is in the process of establishing a professional police force capable of maintaining law and order at the both federal and state levels of government. UNSOM is one of the major partners assisting Somalia to establish a strong and reliable security force.
Nadifo Armey Abdullahi, the Minister of Women and Human Rights Affairs of South West state emphasized that the training will equip the officers with useful skills to deal with security challenges, while being mindful of the rights of the residents.
"The training focuses on human rights and the way in which law enforcement officers should treat the victims, whether it is sexual based violence against girls or the street children," Abdullashi said.
