By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development in collaboration with the United Kingdom Aid (UKAIID) has organized a one-day capacity training workshop for Nigeria Police Force Gender Based Violence Desk Officers’ in Managing Cases of Sexual and Gender Bases Violence (SGBV) in Borno State on Monday.
The Project Manager, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Barrister Samuel Orahii who is also a SGBV expert in his welcome address, said the capacity building workshop was purposely organized for thirty (30) selected Police Gender Desk Officers of the Borno State Police Command to enhance their knowledge and equip them with all the necessary information, techniques and principles.
He added that the workshop further aimed at exposing the gender desk officers to the factors, causes, approaches, procedures and challenges in handling SGBV cases in the society, which requires thorough, specialized and specified as well as responsibility and knowledge, experiences and careful role to play in managing such cases as far as SGBV are serious, unique and important cases in the society for the law enforcement agents to handle.
Mr. Samuel who was also a facilitator at the capacity building workshop which was held at Alanguru Hall/Auditorium of Grand Pinnacle Luxury Hotel, thanked Allamin Foundation for organizing such a capacity training workshop for the law enforcement agents/personnel in the state.
He further said that the participants were expected to be more informed, equipped with adequate information and acquainted with the principles and technicalities involved in handling SGBV cases and procedures of handling such cases towards ensuring justice for the victims is achieved and established.
As facilitator, Mr. Orahii noted that there was also the need for SGBV cases to be transparently and confidently handled with all the trust and confidentiality as well as respect , politeness and dignity the victims should be protected and saved in the hand of the law enforcement agents without disclosure of victims plight, harshness, intimidation, frustration and threats or irresponsibility from the desk officers despite the challenges they may be confronted with.
The facilitator also refected extensively on the objectives of the training workshop which include to strengthen law enforcement response to GBV issues in Borno State, equip the frontline NPF personnel with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to handle GBV cases, enhance the capacity of the NPF Gender Deal Officers in providing survivor care and assistance as well as eliminating stigmatization and stereotype faced by survivors GBV seeking protection and justice.
Some of the participants expressed gratitude and appreciation to the organizers and prayed for more similar and more capacity training in future towards equipping them with additional knowledge and skills to performance more better in the discharge of their responsibility as law enforcement agents in providing safety to lives and property of the citizenry.
Highlights of the event include group work, interactive session/interviews and group photographs among others.