LocationsThe course aims at equipping police officers with the appropriate knowledge, aptitudes, skills, and risk assessment tools to better address GBV in their daily work.
The UNDP supports capacity building for the Mauritius Police Force to improve response for Survivors and Perpetrators of Gender Based Violence.
September 7, 2022
UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles/ Jean-Yan Norbert
A ‘Train the Trainers’ course on the elimination of Gender Based Violence (GBV) was organised by the Mauritius Police Force, in collaboration with the UNDP Mauritius Country Office. This three-day course, starting on 5 September 2022, aims at building capacity and equipping selected police officers with the appropriate knowledge, aptitudes, skills, and risk assessment tools to better address GBV in their daily work. After completing the course, the officers will in turn conduct a standardised training programme in their respective divisions across Mauritius. As an outcome of the training, officers will develop the required skills to improve their response to GBV by providing priority support to survivors while holding perpetrators accountable.
In the light of the increasing number of reported cases of gender based violence, as well as the implications of COVID-19, in 2020, UNDP supported the High Level Committee on the Elimination of Gender Based Violence in the formulation and adoption of the National Strategy and Action Plan on the Elimination of Gender Based Violence (NSAP) in 2020, that sets out a clear vision and actions by all stakeholders in that respect.
As one of the key outputs of the Action Plan, the present training will be delivered by the International Consultant who formulated the NSAP.
Towards Eliminating Gender Based Violence in the Republic of Mauritius
In his welcome address, Mr. Paraouty, Officer-in-Charge of the ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’, highlighted that the primary purpose of the course is “to enhance capacity building of frontline officers to enable them to deal with GBV cases in a sustained, holistic and professional manner.” He also reaffirmed that addressing GBV cases remains one of the priorities under the Strategic Action Plan of the Mauritius Police Force.
During her speech, Ms. Fatuma Musa, Officer in Charge, UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles, emphasized that is the event was part of a series of activities following the signature of a Letter of Agreement between the Country Office and the Mauritius Police Force.” She explained that this partnership has been secured in terms of strategically addressing GBV through informed decision-making and capacity building of officers. Ms Musa further mentioned the different engagements taken by the Country Office to support Stakeholders in eliminating Gender Based Violence, including assistance in the implementation of the “Lespwar” Mobile Application and community outreach programmes.
Mr. Anil Kumar Dip, Commissioner of Police stated that “violence against women is a grave violation of human rights.” He added that to combat GBV, the MPF is working in collaboration with key stakeholders to sensitize vulnerable groups, who are often deprived of information and denied access to services by the perpetrators.
During her address, the Honourable Kalpana Koonjoo-Shah, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, highlighted that GBV has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as survivors were confined with perpetrators during the lockdown. She also emphasized the “importance of training police officers to respond efficiently and effectively, as they are the first port of call for survivors.”
Senior Officers of the Mauritius Police Force will also be sensitized on the different frameworks in place to address GBV at the national and international levels during a separate session. Moreover, following the successful delivery of the training programme, the 30 Officers trained will be expected to replicate the standardised modules amongst Police Officers operating at different levels across the different divisions. It is expected that in the long term all new recruits will be equipped with gender sensitive skills to carry out their daily duties, including identification of GBV cases and in responding to related cases.
An award giving ceremony was held on 07 September following the training course, whereby some 40 male and female participants renewed their commitments to include gender sensitive strategies in the delivery of their daily duties. The support of the UNDP was acknowledged in terms of the assistance extended.