Police target child protection training

The Bomana Police Training College has for the first time endorsed and fully incorporated Child Protection Training Modules into its approved curriculum for new police recruits.

The Child Protection Training Module, crafted within the framework for the protection of children in Papua New Guinea, laid down by the National Child Protection Policy 2017-2027 and Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, will educate police officers on providing improved policing services for children in need of care and protection, as well as child victims or survivors of violence.

The Royal PNG Constabulary (RPNGC) has also developed a shortened ‘Introduction to Child Protection Training Course’ for officers already serving in the field. Around 50 operational officers are expected to be the first to benefit from the training in quarter three of 2022. It is intended to train up to 100 police recruits in early 2023.

While the Bomana Police Training Commandant and Assistant Commissioner John Kolopen is leading this milestone curriculum. This process was made possible through the support of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through its long-term partnership in Child Protection with UNICEF PNG. 

Kolopen, who has extensive experience in the development of child protection and juvenile justice training and policy formulation, proudly announced this important milestone for children in need of care and protection, including child victims and witnesses of crimes. 

“It will be the first training of its kind in PNG after we recognized there was no specific child protection training in our curriculum. It includes a three-day child protection course for recruits and a targeted one-day child protection training for experienced officers.”

“We are committed to strengthening our police responses to matters involving children and working to ensure children at risk of violence, or who witness crimes, are supported with policing services and referrals to specialized child protection service providers in line with their best interests.

“I thank the UNICEF PNG and the Australian Federal Police, through the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership for their support in our combined efforts to better protect and care for our children,” Kolopen added.

UNICEF Representative, Dr. Claudes Kamenga, said, “Ensuring access to justice for children in accordance with internationally recognized and acceptable standards and practices is a core objective of UNICEF in PNG. This institutionalized training will ensure police in PNG are better equipped with the knowledge and capacity to reach more children in need of care and protection or at risk of violence with better policing services and referrals.” 

Author: 
Frieda Kana