The Child Welfare Unit of the Gambia Police Force in collaboration with African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) on Friday concluded a two-day training for prison officers on the rights, protection and treatment of female prisoners on the Women’s Act. The training was held at the ACDHRS office along the Senegambia highway in Kololi.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Amadou Ceesay, coordinator of ACDHRS, commended the participants for the turnout, while expressing optimism that the knowledge gained would be utilised effectively. He thanked the facilitators for organising a successful training.

For his part, Inspector Seedy Saidykhan of the Police Child Welfare Unit expressed delight at the training, adding that the information gathered would be disseminated to the wider society most especially their counterparts who are not fortunate to attend the training. Baboucarr Jatta, a participant, thanked the organisers for conducting the training, while disclosing that it will go a long way in helping them to execute their duties as prison officers.

ASP Ansumana Kinteh of the Gambia Police Force applauded the ACDHRS for the training and called on the participants to practice what has been taught. He assured the ACDHRS that special attention will be given to female inmates since that is what the centre advocates for in the Women’s Act. The executive director of ACDHRS, Hannah Foster described the training as timely, disclosing that the rights of the female inmates, which are being abused are a great concern for the ACDHRS.