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Personnel from the Sierra Leone Police’s Legal and Justice Support Department and the Family Support Unit (FSU) have completed a one-day capacity-building training aimed at strengthening the investigation and prosecution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
The training, organised by Legal Access Through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice (L.A.W.Y.E.R.S), was held on 2 July 2026 in Freetown and brought together police personnel from Kailahun, Moyamba, Kambia, Koinadugu, and Falaba Districts.
The programme was designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and practical skills in handling SGBV cases in line with legal and professional standards. Sessions focused on key aspects of case management, including the legal framework governing SGBV offences, evidence collection, case file preparation, prosecution strategies, and strengthening collaboration between investigators and prosecutors.
To promote practical learning, participants engaged in interactive exercises, role-playing sessions, and group discussions that simulated real-life investigative and prosecutorial scenarios. The activities were intended to improve participants’ ability to effectively manage SGBV cases from investigation through prosecution.
The training also underscored the importance of a coordinated, survivor-centred response to SGBV, stressing the need for close collaboration among the Sierra Leone Police, the Family Support Unit, medical service providers, legal practitioners, and relevant government institutions.
Facilitators further reminded participants to maintain professionalism, uphold ethical standards, and strictly adhere to legal procedures to ensure thorough investigations, protect the rights of survivors, and improve the successful prosecution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance the criminal justice response to SGBV across Sierra Leone.
