A capacity-building workshop for female Liberian National Police (LNP) officers was held in Nimba County in November focusing on their retention in the service as well as promotion and specialization in various operational areas. 

A capacity-building workshop for female Liberian National Police (LNP) officers was held in Nimba County in November focusing on their retention in the service as well as promotion and specialization in various operational areas. 

The workshop, organized by the Female Police Support Network (FPSN) and the UNPOL Region 3 Deputy Commander, was attended by 22 female LNP officers drawn from three counties – Nimba, Bong and Lofa. 

FPSN was established in June this year by UNPOL leadership to support, mentor and advise female UNPOL officers and their female LNP counterparts, particularly those based in rural areas. The network will provide training and networking for female LNP officers with a view to improving gender mainstreaming in the law enforcement agency.  

Following an LNP training needs analysis carried out by Region 3 female UNPOL officers, led by the Region’s Deputy Commander Kristin Fjell, the workshop sought to furnish the participants with management, First Aid and crime investigation skills. 

During the two-day workshop, UNPOL Reform and Restructuring Coordinator Jane Rhodes provided participants with team building and leadership skills. 

UNPOL Gbarnga Team Site member Stine Bjelland dealt with crime victim interview techniques and how to assess and collect evidence from a scene of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases.

UNMIL Medical Officer Dr. Henry Konuwa tackled a session on First Aid during which he taught participants the significance of rendering medical assistance to crime or accident victims, particularly during emergency situations. 
“We really enjoyed and benefited a lot from this workshop,” enthused Sergeant Andrea P. Swen from Gbarnga LNP Headquarters. “All of us learned new things on how to efficiently perform our duties.”

LNP Patrol Officer Lois Kuo Dolo, based at Iron Gate/Police Check Point, told UNMIL Today that she had also found the lecture by Dr. Konuwa on First Aid quite useful to her as a law enforcer, who sometimes has to attend to injured crime victims. 

“I hope UNPOL will always be coming up with this kind of training for the benefit of all Liberian female police officers,” said Dolo. She added that the workshop also offered them a platform on which to meet and share intelligence and general information about criminal and social happenings in their respective counties.