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Human rights training for Bangladesh police

18 February 2008

Targeting international human rights standards

Thirty police trainers from Bangladesh will participate in a human rights training workshop in the capital, Dhaka, from 19 to 23 February 2008. The event, supported by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, is aimed at equipping national police trainers with knowledge and skills on human rights principles and practices to further strengthen the day-to-day work of the police in law enforcement.

Workshop participants will be taught by experienced senior police trainers Pieter Cronje and Cliff Walsh, formerly of the South African Police Force, who will discuss ways to ensure that respect for human rights is an intrinsic part of police work.

Topics include ethics, powers and practices of arrest; search and seizure tactics; community policing; dealing with vulnerable groups; addressing victims of crime; and balancing the freedom of assembly with the maintenance of public order.

The programme, which has been run by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Human Rights Unit (HRU) since 2005, has benefited police trainers in more than 25 Commonwealth countries.

"The Human Rights Unit is pleased to hold this workshop with the Bangladesh police. We hope that the trainers will benefit from the coursework to keep them abreast of international human rights standards that can be exercised in the daily execution of duties in police work," said Dr Purna Sen, Head of the HRU.