Chain Actors working in the Criminal Justice System have benefited from a three-day training under the Spotlight Initiative Project.

Conducted in Ganta, Nimba County, it brought together 41(24 females and 17 males) from five most-affected counties-Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Lofa, Nimba and Grand Gedeh.

Participants were drawn from  the Liberia Immigration Service, Women and Children Protection Sections of the Liberia National Police, Bureau of Corrections, Ministry of Gender, Sexual  and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prosecutors, lawyers, nurses, social workers and Civil Society Organizations CSOs, especially women-led movements.

The training was designed to Increase the knowledge base of criminal justice chain actors by building their skills to effectively prosecute cases in court; prevent and respond to SGBV crimes and violations of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), as well as documentation of those cases, all in a gender-sensitive manner.

During the opening session, Cllr Isaac George encouraged participants to take the training seriously since it is aimed at enhancing their skills around the criminal justice chain system.

George expressed the government’s appreciation to the UN and EU for the farsightedness in funding this global initiative intended to reduce the burden of violence and abuses meted out against women and girls in the society.

Also making remarks, the Senior Gender Advisor of the Integrated Justice Systems International Cindy Syes, expressed her appreciation to the UN and EU and encouraged participants to be proactive and work on the part of empathy.

She said that communication and coordination are key elements in promoting access to justice and protecting SGBV victims/survivors.

The training was facilitated by the Institute for Constitutional Research, Policy and Strategic Development (ICRPSD) and coordinated by the SGBV Crimes Unit, Ministry of Justice.

Some topics covered include; Access to justice using a gender sensitive approach; the justice chain and attrition; Sexual and Reproductive Health Offenses and Laws, Court Room Practices & Techniques and Case File Development among others.

The activity is part of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative (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).