Regional Training of Trainers on UNODC Toolkit for Law Enforcement Officials

Ramada Hotel, Islamabad - 30 May - 02 June 2016

The UNODC Country Office in Pakistan (UNODC COPAK), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, has organised a four days 'Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) course on the UNODC Toolkit for Law Enforcement Officials,' from 30 May to 02 June, 2016 in Islamabad. The Government of Sweden is generously supporting the training through the UNODC Regional Programme on Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries.

Approximately 25 law enforcement officials from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are participating in the training course. Mr. Toaha Hussain Bugti, Senior Joint Secretary of the Narcotics Control Division, Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, graced the opening ceremony of the training course as the chief guest.

The training is based on a UNODC-developed toolkit designed to support law enforcement personnel in order to better understand and engage effectively with drug users and vulnerable populations.            

The purpose of this ToT course is to develop a better understanding of the important role played by the police in public health, understand public health responses to drug use, apply newly learned skills with diverse and vulnerable populations (including people who use drugs), learn to form and sustain partnerships within the community to protect public health, reduce crime, and also to conduct future training courses on the subject in their respective countries.

There is increasing global recognition of the important role that the police have in protecting citizens and improving public health, especially in diverse and vulnerable communities.  The law enforcement officials have a significant role and responsibility to ensure uninterrupted access to essential drugs and HIV-related health and social services for vulnerable populations including drug users. 

By virtue of their role in upholding law and order, promoting community safety and protecting human rights, law enforcement officials are often in frequent contact with drug users.

Additional training on this subject will aim to assist LE trainers with designing, tailoring and delivering a training package that will ensure that LE officials at all levels are better informed and equipped to exploit the unique opportunities that their work presents for reaching out to the key populations they encounter, referring them to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, and for helping them to adhere to such services.