A three-day long training programme for police officials of different districts of the province was organised at the police training academy in Saeedabad to teach the law enforcers about the basic concepts of human rights. The programme was organised in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC). Forty five police officials participated from two police colleges and nine police schools throughout the province. Sindh police DIG (Research and Development) Abdul Khalique Shaikh conducted a session on the investigation of honour killing cases.
He quoted various case studies where faulty investigations had led to the acquittal of the accused, elaborated on various investigation techniques and referred to the traditional mindset of investigation officers in these cases. He stressed the need for community policing methods by bringing survivors and witnesses in secure positions. Sharafat Ali of PILER covered the topics of bonded labour and minority rights. Shad, the deputy commandant of the Saeedabad training centre, also conducted a session on restorative justice.
SPARC Juvenile Justice Manager Ghulam Madni Memon said that the objective of the training is to train inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors on the topic of human rights so that they can further train other police officers that come to the academies. “This will consequently help in sensitising police officials and spreading human rights awareness among them, especially when there are cases involving children,” he said. He highlighted the need for incuding the subject of human rights in the syllabus of police training courses. SPARC Regional Manager Iqbal Detho conducted a session on the basic concepts of human rights and practices for the police.
He said that the human rights education culture has to be inculcated in courses because such irregular seminars and workshops will not solve the issue. “This culture has to be incorporated in regular trainings and accountability for human rights should be made a part of administrative action,” he said. SPARC Training Specialist Dr Fakhir Sohail trained officers on how to become effective trainers by inculcating quality training skills and also conducted activities on community policing, particularly when vulnerable groups like children are involved.
