Tuesday, July 16, 2013

CPA takes child rights to senior police officers

So far in two weeks, 55 police officers in The Gambia have been trained on human rights, a subject that remains a huge challenge in the tiny West African country (Photo Credit: Rickmann/Kerewan/2005)

Photo Credit: Kingfisher
25 senior members of The Gambia Police Force, GPF, have undergone three-day training on Child rights, child protection and Gambia’s legal framework on children at a local resort in Bijilo, Kombo North District of the West Coast Region.

The training, organized by the local children rights agency, Child Protection Alliance (CPA), was meant to broaden the understanding of Chief Inspectors and Deputy Commissioners on the principles of child rights and national laws and to guarantee better protection of children in police stations and local communities.

Ndundu Drammeh, National Coordinator CPA, said the police taking part again in the refresher course manifest their commitment to protecting the welfare of children.

 “If we protect their (children’s) rights they will grow to become good elders and they will be living in a world that is shaking,” Drammeh said.

Fanta Bai Secka, Social Welfare Director, noted it is good to have this kind of trainings as senior police officials would be using their knowledge to command their juniors and prosecutors.

Necessary

Last week, 30 police officers were trained on “Human Rights” at the offices of the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in The Gambia, TANGO, at Fajara.

The 8–12 July, 2013 training seeks  to  introduce  officers of the country’s police force  to  the  general  concepts,  principles  and  standards  of human rights. It will also touch on the linkage between human rights, governance and development, the rule of law, and law enforcement.

It followed the  creation  of a  Human  Rights  Unit  for  the  Gambia  Police  Force (GPF),  which  TANGO believes will  definitely  serve  to make  the  GPF  a  more  responsive  public  institution  that  will  contribute  to  the sustainable and peaceful development of The Gambia.  

“We expect that with this knowledge, police officers at all levels will further improve their work as they better understand and utilise human rights information and skills in   their work,” said Madi Jobarteh, Programme Manager TANGO.

The umbrella body of civil society organisations in the country said it is “necessary” for the police to better understand local and international human rights standards to enable   them ensure that the human rights of persons are respect and protect.

TANGO considers the Gambia Police Force as a primary duty bearer in the defense of human rights and the rule of law in The Gambia, a tiny West African country where human rights remains a challenge.

Written by Modou S. Joof
 
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