A 3-day refresher workshop was conducted to enhance the investigative capacity of Police and Women and Children Protection Units (WACPS) Investigators to effectively investigate Sexual and Gender- Based Violence Cases in Liberia.

Thirty –six (36) participants- 24 males and 12 females from Lofa, Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties attended the training held in Ganta, Nimba County supported by the Spotlight Initiative funded by the European Union being implemented through the United Nations System.

Under this joint Programme, the United Nations Development Programme Programme (UNDP) is entrusted to ensure the strengthening of institutions and ensuring the delivery of quality and essential services in the prevention and the responses to SGBV and harmful practices at the national, sub-national and community levels. The Refresher training is a part of the components dedicated to UNDP for support.

During the opening sessions, the Chief of WACPS division Sussie Pelleh expressed her appreciation to the EU Spotlight Initiative especially the UNDP family, for their efforts in seeing the need to get officers trained, to effectively perform their duties and responsibilities.

Pelleh admonished WACPS and Police officers to be proactive in their line of duties.

Also speaking, Ernree Neeplo, UNDP National Program Officer for Gender/SGBV stressed the need for accurate data collection, reporting, coordination and collaboration with other stakeholders and criminal justice actors to effectively prevent and respond to SGBV cases.

Neeplo provided an overview of the Spotlight Initiatives and the role of UNDP among other agencies.

The activity is part of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiatives (a multi-national partnership initiative designed to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls as well as increase access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services.

An assessment conducted in the five spotlight counties- Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Grand cape Mount and Montserrado reveal that SGBV investigation remains a critical and challenging task.

Some WACPS officers have challenges in investigation procedure and collecting evidence from the crime scene to ensure successful prosecution.

The training became imperative to build the skills of these officers to help them familiarize themselves with contemporary best practices in all aspects of investigation, SGBV, juvenile, domestic violence and human trafficking cases, and to close some of the gaps that affect investigators.