Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (UNODC)

Regional Training of Trainers on UNODC Toolkit for Law Enforcement Officials

30 May - 02 June 2016, Ramada Hotel - Islamabad     

The UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and neighboring in collaboration with the Country office Pakistan has organized a four days 'Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on UNODC Toolkit for Law Enforcement Officials', from 30 May to 02 June 2016 in Islamabad. The training, is supported by the Government of Sweden.  

Approximately 25 law enforcement officials from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has participated in the workshop. The workshop was conducted by international trainers using the UNODC toolkit to enhance communication and engagement of law enforcement officials with drug users and other marginalized, diverse and/or vulnerable populations  

The objective of  the ToT was  to develop better understanding of the important role of police in public health, to understand the public health responses to drug use, able to apply the learned skills with diverse and vulnerable populations, including people who use drugs, learn to form and sustain partnerships within community to protect public health, reduction in crime and also to conduct further trainings on the subject in their respective countries.

There is increasing global recognition of the important role that police have in protecting citizens and 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 people who inject drugs (PWID).

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

During the four days participants from regional countries shared their experience of involving Law enforcement officials in public health activities.  Participants Kazakhstan presented the steps his countries taken to introduce drugs use and HIV prevention in the curricula of national police academy.  Under trainee law enforcement officials are being provided lectures on drug and HIV prevention on regular basis, he further added.  

The participants of the TOT will act as master trainers and conduct similar training in the respective national police training  colleges academy/colleges