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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with key partners, on Tuesday 1st October 2024, launched a training program aimed at enhancing the understanding of sexual offences laws among law enforcement officials in Sierra Leone.
The event was held at Hotel 5-10 in Freetown and brought together police officers and traffic wardens from the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA).
Applauding the collaboration, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Sahr Y. Senesie, who represented the Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu, expressed gratitude to UNDP and other partners for their support. He emphasized the importance of international partnerships in bolstering internal security and noted that such collaboration strengthens capacity within the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
He underscored the critical role of bike riders in maintaining peace, acknowledging their influence as a significant pressure group in national security matters. “Any discord between bike riders and law enforcement must be addressed earnestly,” he stated, highlighting the necessity for law enforcement officials to avoid misconduct, including alleged incidents of sexual harassment toward female commercial bike riders. He urged officers to adhere strictly to the law while executing their duties, asserting, “We must be ambassadors of the principles we uphold.”
The training was designed to provide law enforcement personnel with comprehensive understanding of allegations related to sexual offences and to clarify their responsibilities within the legal framework. AIG Senesie reaffirmed that the SLP is open to ongoing training initiatives and urged participants to leverage this opportunity to enhance their professional practices. Assanatu Judith Mansaray, the Director of Training at the SLRSA, reinforced her organization’s dedication to regulating road traffic laws while acknowledging the complexities of interactions with bike riders. She pointed out that conflicts can arise between traffic wardens and bike riders, underscoring the importance of effective communication and conflict resolution.
Mansaray also acknowledged the specific challenges faced by female bike riders and condemned any acts of harassment by personnel, emphasizing a commitment to upholding proper conduct.
“This training is not only timely but vital for equipping both traffic wardens and police with the essential knowledge of sexual offences,” Mansaray stated, expressing optimism that the insights gained would yield positive outcomes in their respective mandates.
Program analyst at UNDP Sierra Leone, Hoyumi Yashiro, highlighted the strategic significance of the training in empowering youth bike riders as sustainable agents of peace. She expressed her hope that the collaboration would continue to promote positive behavioral changes among law enforcement officials.
The training session concluded with a group photo to commemorate the occasion, reflecting a unified commitment to enhancing law enforcement practices in Sierra Leone.
