Mbuji-Mayi, 3 September 2012 - A five day-training workshop on human rights and international humanitarian law organized by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) of Mbuji-Mayi ended on 31st August 2012. The beneficiaries were 25 commissioned police officers from across Kasaï Occidental province.

The training is one of the initiatives that the UNJHRO regularly undertakes to promote respect of human rights among the population of the DRC, and in particular among agents of the security force. It is an important aspect of the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO),

In Kasaï Occidental, most of the human rights violations recorded by the UNJHRO involve agents of the Congolese police who are either directly or indirectly held as responsible. Some police agents systematically abuse of their power to commit crime; others allow a culture of impunity to persist. It is to end this that the UNJHRO, in collaboration with police authorities, organized this training with a group of high officials of the National Police selected to be future "trainers" in their work environment. Some of the themes discussed included the responsibility of the police in the protection of human rights, the importance of the investigations of human rights violations, work ethics, and how to treat victims of abuse.

The training was a mix of presentations, case studies, and exchanges among the participants, but also gave the opportunity to distribute material on human rights and humanitarian law, leaving the future trainers well equipped with resources. The new trainers will be responsible to empower other Congolese policemen in the region.

Susanna Arcella/ MONUSCO