Ranks trained to deal with gender-based violence

The recently-launched COPSQUAD2000 initiative by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, in collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Police Force, saw the first batch of officers graduating from the gender responsive training on Saturday at the Guyana Police Force Officesr’ Training Centre.
The initiative was created in an effort to eliminate the occurrence of gender-based violence.
A total of 17 officers received certificates and badges upon completion of the two-week training session on how to effectively respond to and deal with cases of gender-based violence while providing victims with effective public services.
This initiative is said to be the brainchild of Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, whose aim is to have a total of 2000 officers trained in this field before year end.
Dr Persaud, in her remarks, stated that this was the first time an initiative has gone past the mere formality of participation since it will be tackling the social ill of domestic and gender-based violence.
“I think today is a significant day for the country, because this is the first time that an initiative has gone beyond the mere formalities of training, the mere formalities of participation, but this training was intended for us to have a meaningful, purposeful, tangible impact on a social ill that has created havoc in our country and globally,” the Minister expressed.
“You are the pioneers of the COPSQUAD initiative, and I feel in my heart that you will do justice to the training you would have received through this initiative.”
She further charged the officers to wear their badges with pride, stating that a reduction in cases could be achieved in the country once the training officers received was channelled.
“…and when I say pride, pride that you would go out there and be agents of transformation. Agents who not only do this, because it falls within your routine duty, but because you believe that you want to be part of a solution. And if we can harness the energies that you would have expended during your training to make the kind of difference in all of the communities that you will be placed, I think that our country can see the reduction numbers,” Dr Persaud said.
On the other hand, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn pointed out that issues related to gender-based violence were critical and the training of officers in this regard was important since the first official report of these cases would be made to the Police.
“The first point of contact of a victim is a Police person, the first official done beyond the Human Services Ministry in the form of the welfare officers. One of the problems which do not bring an end to violence, and violence which escalates to serious issues, serious injury and death… is how we engage with the victims even while we are putting in the Police Stations places where victims – children, women – can safely sit and discuss the issue. I think we have to overcome a massive challenge of disdain of not wanting to engage or thinking perhaps it is normal and acceptable for this type of behaviour to continue,” he stated.