LocationsOver 150 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Personnel Trained in Gender-Responsive Policing
September 22, 2023
Peshawar, 22 September 2023 - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan in collaboration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police conducted a comprehensive training of the trainers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Personnel. The training covered gender-responsive policing and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for gender-responsive desks, under the European Union (EU) funded “Deliver Justice Project.” The primary goal of this training initiative was to enhance the institutional capabilities of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the domains of gender-responsive policing and the effective management of gender-responsive desks dedicated to addressing gender-based crimes in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. This training aimed to impart knowledge and ensure its lasting impact, sustainability, and transferability to other police personnel.
Last year, the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme partnered with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police under the EU-funded ‘Deliver Justice Project’ to roll out their first training on gender-responsive policing together. In continuation of these efforts this year, the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police conducted a five-day training of trainers of 157 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police personnel in five batches between 15 August 2023 and 22 September 2023. The training was attended by police officers from various districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Khyber, Kurram, Chitral, Hangu, and Bajaur, demonstrating a noteworthy presence of both men and women in attendance.
Mr Hukam Khan, Superintendent of Police (SP) Training, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police attended the closing ceremony on 22 September 2023 along with Ms Chamila Hemmathagama, Programme Manager, Rule of Law Programme, UNDP Pakistan.
The majority of the trainees perform their duties within communities or are stationed at gender-responsive desks all across the province. This enabled them to exchange insights on the unique challenges they encounter while safeguarding citizens against gender-based crimes at the grassroots level and, ultimately enhance their ability to serve the communities according to local needs.
The training focused on sensitizing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Officers on gender-responsive policing and equipping them with adequate skills to play an active role in addressing gender-based crimes, conducting gender-based crime investigations, and fulfilling their duties according to the SOPs laid out for gender-responsive desks upon returning to their respective districts. Among others, the training addressed different aspects of gender-based violence, sexual violence, harassment, and laws protecting and promoting the rights of women.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr Hukam Khan, SP Training, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police underlined, “Gender-responsive policing and a dedicated effort to address gender-based crimes through gender-responsive desks is a key step towards building safer communities for the vulnerable. We seek to continue our partnership with the EU and UNDP Pakistan in ensuring justice and security for all and are thankful to them for supporting the gender sensitization of both the men and women officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.”
Ms Chamila Hemmathagama, Programme Manager, Rule of Law Programme, UNDP Pakistan acknowledged the commitment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police to ensure gender-responsive policing and gender inclusion and mainstreaming at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. “To strengthen access to security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is essential that we continue to develop institutional capacity through our collective efforts to meet the security needs of every member of the society so that no one is left behind.” She also thanked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the EU for their support in the development of 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 support reform processes to ensure the delivery of people-centred justice, enhance access to justice for all, particularly women and less privileged groups, and improve service delivery of the security sector in line with constitutional safeguards and international standards in the Merged Districts and Balochistan. The programme is funded by the EU and jointly implemented by UNDP, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The UNDP Rule of Law Programme is implementing a range of interventions to enhance security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.
For additional information, please contact Shuja Hakim at shuja.hakim@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5657
### ### ###
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP
