500 police ranks equipped to combat domestic violence

- New domestic violence legislation coming soon

OVER 500 Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks who completed the COPSQUAD2000 initiative received their certificates and badges on Friday in accordance with the government’s commitment to preventing domestic violence against women and girls.

The initiative aims to increase the ranks’ knowledge of gender-based violence laws and equip them with the necessary training to deal with gender-based crimes in a manner that would protect the victims.

This is a partnership of the Human Services and Social Security and Home Affairs Ministries, the Guyana Police Force, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The initiative aims to improve the officers’ knowledge of the laws governing gender-based violence and to equip them with the training they need to respond to cases of gender-based violence in a way that would safeguard the victims.

This will help the officers to strengthen the response against the various forms of violence against women and girls.

The training included interrogation, safety assessment, advising and dealing with persons with complaints, and creating case reports.

The government will be overhauling the ‘Domestic Violence Act’ of 1996, with some 40 proposed amendments, which the Human Services and Social Security Ministry hopes will address all forms of violence.

During remarks at the graduation, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud said the training was significant since it will help the officers address gender-based violence matters professionally.

The officers were also informed to be agents of peace within their communities.

“You are on a path of noted that the training is essential to provide the ranks with the necessary tools to mitigate gender-based violence against women and girls, while noting the need for a holistic approach.

The police officers are the gatekeepers, ensuring that peace is always maintained, which will help to to train the officers was executed to ensure that they are multifaceted and competent, thereby providing the service that is needed by the public. transformation where you are the trailblazers in an initiative that ensures that every person who requires that protective arm is the custodian of peace and protection in this country…I believe peace can be achieved once people understand that wherever there is peace, there is stability. Wherever there is peace, there is comfort. That comfort is felt by the citizenry knowing that there is a force that caters for them to be, at all times, secure and safe,” Minister Persaud highlighted.

“With this type of training, we will ensure that we maximise the opportunity in a decentralised way. We are going to have you, who have been trained in the COPSQUAD, stationed at every station of our outpost within the regions on a shift basis… Introspection and change start now,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the European Union, Evelina Melbarzde expressed gratitude to the partners involved in the initiative.

She emphasised that everyone has the responsibility to help others.

UN Resident Coordinator Yesim Oruc and other ranks of the Guyana Police Force were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn create wholesome communities.

“If we cannot protect our women, we would not have the opportunity to have peace in our country. If we cannot protect our children, we will have the vicious circle and the continuous issues of not moving along the progressive path of creating a more wholesome, safe society… You are the peacekeepers. Peace has to be fundamentally in the homes where women and children are,” Minister Benn said.

Police Commissioner (ag), Clifton Hicken also highlighted that the initiative