23 January 2015 - To enhance safety mechanisms for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in UNMISS protection sites, UN Police (UNPOL) advisors today completed a training for a community watch group in Juba.

The four-day course focused on gender, child protection, rights of women and children, local justice to deal with minor issues and crimes, dispute resolution, and benefits of visible patrols and community reassurance.

Other issues discussed in the training included HIV awareness, working with partners like non-governmental organizations and UNPOL, ground rules of the protection site, as well as roles and responsibilities ensuring fire safety.

"The Community Watch Group embraced this new learning and are keen to put it into practice,” said UNPOL advisor Jackie Gold, who was one of the organizers. “This will make those with responsibility more identifiable. It will help them to be role models and leaders for their communities and help to make their community safer.”

The group, which was comprised of representatives of IDPs seeking refuge at a protection site near the UN House along Yei road, was the second group to attend training.

"We have been given knowledge and skills and we have learnt about responsibility, respect and dignity,” said El Charbang Gatdene Duop, a participant. “We have learnt about health of our bodies and prevention of HIV.”

Another participant Gatpan Chiba Nyon also appreciated the training, noting that it would increase the watch group’s capacity to work with the community.

A similar course was conducted in December, while another one will be held in February. In total, UNPOL expects to train 160 members.