Tema, May 31, GNA – “Without effective community engagement, even the most well-trained police personnel will remain ill-prepared to prevent, detect and investigate crimes, especially those happening in the domestic space against women and girls,” UN Police Adviser, Luís Carrilho has stated.
“Working in partnership with the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-based Violence offers a sound cooperation framework for UN Police to work together with national, regional and global colleagues to draw attention to, and actively address, this pernicious form of violent crime”.
According to the UN Police Adviser, current gender-responsive policing efforts are focused on building trust between the police and local communities, improving collaboration with other service providers.
It also involved supporting police middle managers to deliver survivor-centred approaches, such as placing the obligation on perpetrators to leave the home, not victims and survivors.
In a working document made available to the Ghana News Agency at Tema by the UN Women, which focuses on:
“Strengthening police responses to gender-based violence crucial in lead up to Generation Equality”.
“Strengthening police responses to gender-based violence crucial in lead up to Generation Equality”.
The UN Women, in partnership with the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), convened a global roundtable to discuss the benefits of gender-responsive policing in ending violence against women and girls.
According to UN data less than one out of 10 women who seek help after experiencing violence turn to the police, and only a minority of cases of gender-based violence are ever formally reported to the police, with even fewer cases resulting in convictions.
“Cultural changes inside the police force can have extended impact, affecting more broadly how the justice system interacts with the public,” said Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.
She noted, “If we are to see real change for women and girls, we must address the many institutional and structural barriers, patriarchal systems and negative stereotyping around gender that exist in security, police and judicial institutions.
“Professionally trained and equipped female officers can also play a vital role in removing the barriers that women and girls face in navigating complex criminal justice systems.
“We know that when female officers are more visible, women and girls in the community are more likely to believe that their concerns are being heard and seriously addressed”.
GNA
GNA