LEAHN CFP Chief Inspector Wilson Lomali, Kenya Police, joined with the civil society organisation Keeping Alive Society’s Hope (KASH) for a workshop on ‘Sensitising the police on human rights, gender-based violence and promotion of HIV/AIDS services for key populations’. The two day September 2015 workshop in Mombasa was supported by the Red Cross Society.
The issues discussed during the training included:
1) Epidemiology of key populations Kenya
2) The science of addiction (related to harm reduction)
3) Addressing violence against sex workers and the linkage to HIV
4) The role of the police in HIV and AIDS
5) Understanding sexual violence
6) Forensic management of gender based violence
7) What is the Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN) and how it helps police
Representatives from several non-government organisations addressed the police officers to raise concerns about police practices which affected the local sex worker community. Issues about the misuse of police power and authority, violence against sex workers and human rights violations caused some police to become defensive about their work. Some officers were critical of sex workers and were determined that sex work should be eradicated. A carefully facilitated discussion enabled a range of –often conflicting – perspectives to be expressed. The point was emphasised that sex workers in Kenya have the same human rights as other Kenyans, particularly in relation to freedom of movement without interference from police.
The workshop concluded with some important points about how the police need to treat sex workers to make their police work simpler. It was emphasised that sex workers play a big role in policing and need positive attention by the police. It was agreed that improvements in the relationship between police and sex workers in Kenya can have a number of benefits, including:
1) Sex workers have been and are still a source of intelligence collection for the police
2) Can save the lives of innocent people
3) If sex workers are made safe by allowing them access health services, the country will be safer
4) Can be an economic source of revenue to the state
5) Can reduce the rate of rape among the community
6) Creates self employment among unemployed
7) Can reduce corruption among Kenyans
8) Can be a tourist attraction
9) Reduces harassment by the police in the community
10) Eliminates discrimination
Similar workshops are expected to be conducted in other counties in Kenya to improve relations between police and the sex worker community.
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Well done post Melissa.
Gud work, keep it up and lets change at how we handle fellow human beings