Ziguinchor: Judicial police trained in human rights and child protection

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), launched a three-day training workshop for judicial police officers in Ziguinchor on Tuesday, July 21. The objective is to strengthen the skills of law enforcement agencies in human rights and child protection, within a security context marked by the rise of new forms of crime.

During these 72 hours, participants deepen their understanding of national, regional, and international legal instruments relating to the protection of fundamental rights. The President of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), Professor Amsatou Sow Sidibé, emphasized the importance of this initiative in the face of cybercrime, transnational crime, terrorism, and violence against children. According to her, "professionalism combined with respect for human rights allows us to be more effective and achieve lasting results."

The Deputy Regional Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reiterated that police officers play a central role in protecting children and preventing trafficking. The training modules cover the entire care pathway: investigation, psychosocial support, access to healthcare, and educational reintegration. This initiative is part of a long-term partnership with the Senegalese government, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), and the Police Academy, aimed at integrating human rights into police training programs.

For Aminata Kébé, regional coordinator of the PAPEV project, children remain the primary victims of human rights violations in the sub-region. The project, initially focused on combating child begging, has expanded to several West African countries in partnership with ECOWAS and Italian cooperation. Today, it concentrates its efforts on border areas, which are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

Through this training organized in Ziguinchor, the partners intend to combine the effectiveness of investigations, respect for human rights and increased protection of children, while strengthening trust between citizens and the institutions responsible for their security.