LocationsPilot Workshop for Police Officers underway in Pacific Harbour
October 28, 2022
Acting Corporal, Losalini Loloma, of the Sexual Offences Unit reading through the Fiji Police Force Standard Operating Procedure for Investigation of Sexual Offences.
Pacific Harbour, Fiji - Forty-five (45) members from across the Fiji Police Force are completing a pilot workshop looking at current processes and procedures for interviewing survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
With 64 percent of Fijian women subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner or both, the workshop has covered critical areas that police officers must be well versed with in order to effectively respond and provide assistance to SGBV survivors.
The interactive pilot workshop is supported by the New Zealand Government as part of the Fiji Police Force Support Project under which one of the key outputs focuses on strengthening early access to justice in criminal proceedings, and ensuring a survivor-centerd approach to investigations.
Acting Corporal, Losalini Loloma, of the Sexual Offences Unit (SOU) said she will take away a number of new techniques and skills to use in the future.
“I’ve only recently been transferred to SOU, without any real previous skills training. This has been so helpful, broadening my mindset on how to interview victims and survivors,” Ms. Loloma said.
45 participants from across the Fiji Police Force have taken part in a pilot workshop to further their knowledge and understanding of how to conduct interviews with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Rustam Pulatov, Project Manager for the UNDP Fiji Police Force Support Project added, “The ultimate aim of building capacities of the Sexual Offences Unit officers to investigate SGBV cases are twofold and interlinked. Firstly, the reduction of stress and overall time required for survivors to get a justice. And secondly, strengthening the confidence of survivors to report the violence and filing the case with police. Both will effectively contribute to the increase of trust in the police service in the country as ensuring access to justice for all is a critical part of this engagement."
The pilot workshop will conclude on Saturday 29 October 2022.
For further media enquiries please contact:
Rustam Pulatov, Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji; phone: +679 3312 500; email: rustam.pulatov@undp.org
