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Police launch policy on how to handle victims of violence

Thursday, October 14th, 2021 00:00 | By

National Police Service (NPS) have established a one-stop centre for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) to be handled in a responsible and timely manner.

The initiative, dubbed Policare Policy Initiative, puts together a collaborative approach in handling SGBV involving the police, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Ministry of Health, the Judiciary and those involved in psychosocial support.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who spoke at the launch yesterday at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), lauded the move saying it was aimed at restoring priceless dignity to such victims and would also go a long way in curbing rising cases of gender-based.

The First Lady said the approach remains one of the best ways to address the vice that is underreported.

“I commend this move as it will help the victims get the much needed services. People need to be empowered to be able to report the vice,” she said.

The First Lady told the NPS they were the first point of contact by the victims of violence and hence must always gain trust and confidence for more reporting.

She also called on concerted efforts from all stakeholders in addressing the menace adding women and girls are vulnerable to many forms of violence.

According to Ms Kenyatta, the initiative amplifies Kenya’s commitment to end any form of violence and the Female Genital Mutilation by 2022.

Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai said the NPS with partners have joined hands to have a one-stop centre solution where survivors of SGBV are attended to with dignity and confidence from reporting, medical examination and forensic analysis, counselling and finally criminal justice through court prosecution under one roof.

“This means police, medical, forensic, counselling and psychosocial support desks will be in one building.

A functional court with prosecutor and magistrate will also be represented. Other agencies like prisons, gender and children ministry shall be part of team,” he said.

So far two pilot projects are ongoing, with the Nairobi one nearing completion while another in Nanyuki is under construction.

“Once piloted we intend to replicate model across the country. Part of the project is retraining police on gender and sexual based offending focusing on timely and responsive justice to survivors,” he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Edward Mbugua called for support of the initiative saying they lack finances to run it.

Unreported cases

Gender Cabinet Secretary Prof Margaret Kobia who also attended the launch said the issue is a global phenomenon hence need to have a multiagency approach in addressing it.

“It has a relationship with poverty and therefore we are putting resources together to address it,” she said.

 Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangí on his part said the initiative is part of ongoing police transformation and called on police to change their attitude in general and adopt changes being rolled out.

“I plead with the police to change their attitude towards policing because understanding gender based violence is a problem. We will involve all others needed to achieve this goal,” he said.

Police have expressed concerns over the significant cases that go unreported because of the way they are handled in the stations and the duplicity that comes with reporting. This is partly attributed to the manner in which police handle such cases.

Once a report is made, it is filed in a computer system where the concerned authorities can access it without having to subject the victim to more trauma of having to repeat the entire story to different parties.

National Police Service (NPS) have established a one-stop centre for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) to be handled in a responsible and timely manner.

The initiative, dubbed Policare Policy Initiative, puts together a collaborative approach in handling SGBV involving the police, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Ministry of Health, the Judiciary and those involved in psychosocial support.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who spoke at the launch yesterday at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), lauded the move saying it was aimed at restoring priceless dignity to such victims and would also go a long way in curbing rising cases of gender-based.

The First Lady said the approach remains one of the best ways to address the vice that is underreported.

“I commend this move as it will help the victims get the much needed services. People need to be empowered to be able to report the vice,” she said.

The First Lady told the NPS they were the first point of contact by the victims of violence and hence must always gain trust and confidence for more reporting.

She also called on concerted efforts from all stakeholders in addressing the menace adding women and girls are vulnerable to many forms of violence.

According to Ms Kenyatta, the initiative amplifies Kenya’s commitment to end any form of violence and the Female Genital Mutilation by 2022.

Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai said the NPS with partners have joined hands to have a one-stop centre solution where survivors of SGBV are attended to with dignity and confidence from reporting, medical examination and forensic analysis, counselling and finally criminal justice through court prosecution under one roof.

“This means police, medical, forensic, counselling and psychosocial support desks will be in one building.

A functional court with prosecutor and magistrate will also be represented. Other agencies like prisons, gender and children ministry shall be part of team,” he said.

So far two pilot projects are ongoing, with the Nairobi one nearing completion while another in Nanyuki is under construction.

“Once piloted we intend to replicate model across the country. Part of the project is retraining police on gender and sexual based offending focusing on timely and responsive justice to survivors,” he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Edward Mbugua called for support of the initiative saying they lack finances to run it.

Unreported cases

Gender Cabinet Secretary Prof Margaret Kobia who also attended the launch said the issue is a global phenomenon hence need to have a multiagency approach in addressing it.

“It has a relationship with poverty and therefore we are putting resources together to address it,” she said.

 Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangí on his part said the initiative is part of ongoing police transformation and called on police to change their attitude in general and adopt changes being rolled out.

“I plead with the police to change their attitude towards policing because understanding gender based violence is a problem. We will involve all others needed to achieve this goal,” he said.

Police have expressed concerns over the significant cases that go unreported because of the way they are handled in the stations and the duplicity that comes with reporting. This is partly attributed to the manner in which police handle such cases.

Once a report is made, it is filed in a computer system where the concerned authorities can access it without having to subject the victim to more trauma of having to repeat the entire story to different parties.

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