Peshawar, 23 September 2023 (TDI): In collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Pakistan conducted a comprehensive training program for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Personnel.
This training, held under the European Union (EU) funded “Deliver Justice Project,” encompassed two key areas, gender-responsive policing and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for gender-responsive desks.
The primary objective of this initiative was to bolster the institutional capabilities of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the domains of gender-responsive policing and the efficient management of gender-responsive.
Building on previous efforts, the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Program partnered once again with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.
This year, they conducted a five-day training program for trainers involving 157 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police personnel in five batches from August 15, 2023, to September 22, 2023.
Participants in the training included police officers from various districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Khyber, Kurram, Chitral, Hangu, and Bajaur, demonstrating a notable presence of both male and female officers.
The closing ceremony on September 22, 2023, was attended by Hukam Khan, Superintendent of Police (SP) Training, KPK Police, and Chamila Hemmathagama, Program Manager, Rule of Law Program, UNDP Pakistan.
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The training primarily focused on sensitizing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Officers to the principles of gender-responsive policing, equipping them with the necessary skills to actively address gender-based crimes, and conduct investigations related to gender-based crimes.
The training encompassed various aspects of gender-based violence, sexual violence, harassment, and the laws safeguarding and promoting women’s rights.
Hukam Khan, SP Training, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, emphasized the significance of gender-responsive policing and dedicated efforts to address gender-based crimes through gender-responsive desks as vital steps toward creating safer communities for vulnerable individuals.
He expressed the intention to continue the partnership with the EU and UNDP Pakistan in ensuring justice and security for all while acknowledging their support in gender sensitization for both male and female officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.
Chamila Hemmathagama, Program Manager, Rule of Law Program, UNDP Pakistan, commended the commitment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police to promote gender-responsive policing and gender inclusion within the force.
She stressed the importance of strengthening access to security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by developing institutional capacity collaboratively to meet the security needs of every member of society, leaving no one behind.
She also expressed gratitude to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the EU for their support in developing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police’s five-year Gender Strategy and Gender Responsive Policing Policy under the ‘Deliver Justice Project.’
The ‘Deliver Justice Programme, funded by the EU, aims to facilitate reform processes that ensure people-centered justice, and improve access to justice for all, particularly women and marginalized groups.
The program is a collaborative effort between the EU and UNDP, UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), and UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).
The UNDP Rule of Law Program is actively implementing various interventions to enhance governance within the security and justice sectors in Pakistan.
A noteworthy aspect of this training program was the diverse backgrounds of the trainees, many of whom perform their duties within communities or are stationed at gender-responsive desks across the province.
This facilitated the exchange of insights regarding the unique challenges they face while addressing gender-based crimes at the grassroots level, ultimately enhancing their ability to serve communities in alignment with local needs.
