Twenty-five corporals and sergeants will benefit from a 5-week course to enable them to deliver training to their respective divisions on domestic violence prevention and response. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the course on June 19, Mrs. Elizabeth Talbert, UNFPA Representative and Director of the Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, encouraged trainees to actively participate in the course and share their experiences dealing with domestic violence. She also urged them to learn as much as they can so that they are equipped and ready to teach their colleagues about how to deal with such cases. Director Talbert extended special thanks to the team of the Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force for their support with this activity under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Charmaine Shand and Deputy Superintendent Jacqueline Dillon.

Superintendent Marlene Christie, who represented ACP Merrick Watson (Acting Director of the College), expressed thanks to UNFPA for partnering with the Jamaica Constabulary Force on this training course. In her message to the trainees, she reminded them of their role to make a difference in society and she encouraged them to learn as much as possible in order to be the agents of change that they were called to be.

In his welcome remarks, Deputy Superintendent of Police Courtney Coley, who represented Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Charmaine Shand, noted that this training would provide the necessary knowledge and skills for the officers to address domestic violence. He reminded the trainees about their duty to reassure and protect others, and that in doing so, it is important for them to show that they care about their work. DSP Coley further reminded them that their behaviour after the course should reflect what they had learnt.

DSP Jaqueline Dillon, who led the proceedings of the ceremony, expressed gratitude to Elga Salvador, UNFPA Pillar 4 Focal Point, who has been working assiduously with the Community Safety and Security Branch to make the various trainings a success.

The ceremony ended with Superintendent Christie officially declaring the course open.

The Spotlight Initiative is a global programme funded by the European Union and the United Nations to address violence against women and girls. UNFPA is the lead agency on Pillar 4 of the Initiative which focuses on strengthening the coordinated quality response to gender-based violence and increasing accessibility for survivors.