20 April 2012 - Officers of the South Sudan Police Service (SSPS) graduated today at a colourful ceremony in Eastern Equatoria State, after completing a 35-day refresher course at the Himadonge Police Training Centre in Torit.

The second of its kind, the training is expected to boost trainee policing and security provision capacities, according to UN Police Training Coordinator Ahsan Habib Palash.

The 659 officers (92 women and 567 men) were trained by UNMISS police advisors, who taught them basic courses in human rights, handling suspects and witnesses as well as other basic policing skills.

Standing in for the state governor, State Assembly Speaker Ambrose Emmanuel Ocholimoi urged trainees to use the skills and display maximum discipline in their line of duty.

Similarly, Minister for Public Affairs Claudio Suleiman Liling advised the officers to be change agents in their respective areas of operation.

Four outstanding course participants (two men and two women) were given an "award of recognition" in the fields of law, discipline and parade.

"The training is very important for the officers to perform better," said Colonel Peter Ayuen Aguek, SSPS state director of training. "We request UNMISS to provide more training in the future."

As part of UNMISS' mandate to strengthen security services in South Sudan, UN Police in Eastern Equatoria State local police in criminal investigation in December and hosted a community policing forum in February of this year.

Mr. Palash said they planned to conduct four additional training programmes, which would focus on "gender, children and vulnerable protection persons (GCVPP), community policing, leadership for non-commissioned officers, and training of trainers."