Security officers undergo capacity building workshop on Human Rights Awareness and Protection

Security personnel within the Northern region have undergone a training workshop to boost their capacity on issues relating to the Awareness of Human Rights and the protection of these rights.

The workshop which was organized at the Modern City hotel in Tamale, brought together officers from the Ghana Police Service (GPS), The Prisons Service, The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), CSO’s and Gender activists to deliberate on issues relating to the rights of humans and modalities to protecting these rights.

In his submission Mr. Nantogma Adam Baani the North East Regional Director of CHRAJ, indicated that violence against women are usually seen and considered as a normal occurrence which needs to be looked at critically in society.

According to him women need to be more enlightened on what makes up their rights and also be economically empowered in order for them to stand up and fight when necessary.

Mr. Baani further underscored the need for law enforcement agencies to do due diligence to prevent, investigate and make arrest on all violence against women whether perpetrated by public officials or private persons in home, community or in official institutions.

He fingered the plural legal system of Ghana as the cause of most violence behaviors in our societies noting that violators of human rights must be taken on in accordance to the supreme laws of our country.

Presenting on Equal Rights and the Economic empowerment for women and girls, the Northern Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), DSP Emmanuel Holortu indicated most of the human rights infringements women go through is due to their inability to be financially stable hence being a burden to their families.

The all interactive workshop was organized by the Africa Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (AfCHuRSD) in partnership with the  Centre for Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) with support from the Netherlands Embassy.

In an interview with FiilaNews, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AfCHuRSD, Ms Bernice Naah indicated that the workshop is necessary because if law enforcement agencies understands the rights of women in society, their approach to handling these issues will be well appreciated.

Ms Naah indicated that the workshop has already been held in other parts of the country to boost the knowledge of law enforcement agencies, women groups, the media, CSOs and other stakeholders.

Some participants who spoke to FiilaNews expressed appreciation to AfCHuRSD and their partners for the gesture indicating it will go a long way to ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif