24 June 2014 - To assist South Sudanese police with community policing as well as gender, child and vulnerable persons’ protection, UNPOL completed a two-week training today in Aweil, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.

During the graduation ceremony, UN Police State Training Coordinator Bernard Akotoge noted that community policing sought a partnership with communities in preventing crimes.

“CP (Community policing) and GCVPP (Gender, Child and Vulnerable Persons’ Protection) also seeks to identify, protect and assist the vulnerable in society,” he said.

Graduate representative Lt. Samuel Garang Deng said the course had included topics like human trafficking, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and protection of vulnerable groups. “We also learned how train other colleagues.”

State Police Commissioner representative Major George Kuach commended UN Police for its support. “This … is given to us free of charge, but it is very expensive to get knowledge.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Koliab Nahataba urged graduates to put the acquired skills into practice.

“I want to believe that you have benefited from this course, and that places you in a very special (position) … to assist the government,” Mr. Nahataba said. “Your force will be something that your people will be very proud of. Go out and be the stars of the force.”