OSCE/ODIHR supports building capacity of trainers in effective and human rights-compliant policing in Roma communities in Slovakia
Building the capacity of teaching staff to provide training on effective and human rights-compliant policing in Roma communities was the focus of a course organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Košice, Slovakia, from 27 to 30 November 2018.
The course, the first of its kind organized in Slovakia, gathered participants from the Academy of the Police Force in Bratislava and vocational schools for police officers in Pezinok, Košice and Bratislava. The training was organized in co-operation with the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities.
The training helped the participants (eight men and six women) to strengthen their understanding of the importance and benefits of effective policing practices that respect and protect the rights of all people, particularly those who are excluded, vulnerable or discriminated against, such as members of Roma communities.
“Building the capacity of the teaching staff from the Academy and vocational schools of the Police in Slovakia is essential to our efforts to equip police officers at the local level with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with Roma communities, while complying with international human rights standards,” said Dan Pavel Doghi, Chief of the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. “This course will allow national police institutions to conduct the training independently through their own structures, as often as necessary.”
Ábel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary, said: “By organizing this training, OSCE/ODIHR has significantly contributed to advancing the education of police specialists who work with Roma communities and to increasing their effectiveness and empathy-based engagement. This course offers a new perspective on the human aspect of police work, which has the potential to become a standard for the police service and teachers and researchers at police schools, who will be able to continuously apply it in their teaching.”
The training is part of ODIHR’s efforts to assist participating States in implementing the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.