By Jack Lapauve Jr – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Police in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville have committed to furthering the promotion and protection of human rights through their role as duty bearers. This commitment follows a series of human rights and law enforcement workshops conducted in Buka, Arawa and Buin from 13 to 22 March 2019. The workshop enabled participants to strengthen their capacity to apply human rights in their daily responsibilities in the context of the referendum, whose polling is scheduled to start on 12 October 2019.
The workshop centred on the role of police in the promotion and protection of human rights and best practices around the world. A total of 67 participants attended the training.
During the closing ceremony in Buka, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Bougainville Police Service, Francis Tokura, told participants: “I want to see the implementation of human rights knowledge and skills in your working station so that there will be no complaint about the role of the Bougainville Police Service”.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR) has been working closely with Bomana Police Training College on human rights since 2015.
These workshops were delivered as part of the Gender Youth Promotion Initiative, a Peace building project implemented jointly by OHCHR with UN Women and UNFPA to promote the empowerment and participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the referendum.
