By Saidu Jalloh, D.S
The United Nations Development Programme has presented an assessment report on the capacity and service delivery of the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit to Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu, as part of efforts to improve access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
The report was submitted under the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative, a UN partnership programme focused on ending SGBV and harmful practices.
Presenting the findings, UNDP Gender Analyst Kadiatu Bachalle Taylor said the initiative is supporting targeted interventions in Kailahun, Falaba, and Moyamba Districts in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police, the Judiciary, and the Ministry of Justice. She said the assessment, which covered nine FSU jurisdictions, revealed persistent gaps in staffing, logistics, and operational resources that affect service delivery to survivors, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
To address some of the gaps, Taylor said UNDP has provided 14 motorcycles, along with laptops, printers, and other ICT equipment to improve the mobility and efficiency of FSU officers. She added that a review of the Unit’s Standard Operating Procedures is underway to respond to new challenges, including technology-facilitated abuse and SGBV cases in border areas.
IGP Sellu welcomed the report and thanked UNDP for its sustained support to the Police. He described the Family Support Unit as a critical component of the Force’s response to SGBV and said Police Management would study the recommendations and work toward implementation. He also pledged to engage the UNDP Resident Representative to accelerate planned interventions.
The IGP noted that public trust in the FSU has increased reporting of SGBV cases, and stressed the need to build on that progress by further strengthening the Unit’s capacity.
The presentation reaffirmed the ongoing collaboration between UNDP and the Sierra Leone Police under the Spotlight Initiative to enhance protection and justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
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