The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), with support from UNICEF, has commenced a five-day intensive training for 80 investigators from the Family Support Unit (FSU) on handling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
The training, aimed at strengthening investigative capacity and case management, is being held simultaneously at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA) in Hastings and in Bo City, with 40 participants at each location.
Opening the session at SILEA, Acting Commandant DSP Daniel Sovula emphasized the importance of discipline and active participation. He urged trainees to collaborate fully with facilitators to maximize the benefits of the training.
Superintendent Mohamed S.Y. Mansaray, Head of the FSU, said the training draws participants from FSU units in Freetown-East, Freetown-West, and the Southern Region. He noted that gender balance was a key consideration in the selection process.
“This training addresses key gaps in how SGBV cases are handled. It covers areas such as modern investigative techniques, evidence handling, juvenile delinquency, legal frameworks, and police responsibilities to victims,” Mansaray said.
Officially declaring the training open, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Andrew Mustapha Kamara, Director of Training, spoke on behalf of Inspector General William Fayia Sellu. AIG Kamara thanked UNICEF for its ongoing partnership and described the training as critical to the SLP’s ongoing reforms.
“You are not just representing the FSU but the entire Sierra Leone Police,” Kamara told participants. “Victims of SGBV, especially women and children, depend on your professionalism and competence.”
He urged attendees to fully engage with the content, read materials, and seek clarity where needed, adding that their duty to the nation includes protecting its most vulnerable.
The training is expected to improve the effectiveness of SGBV investigations and enhance support for survivors across the country.
