By: Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
Personnel from the Sierra Leone Police Legal and Justice Support Department and the Family Support Unit have undergone specialized training to strengthen how Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases are investigated and prosecuted.
The one-day capacity-building workshop was organized by Legal Access Through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice, L.A.W.Y.E.R.S, and held in Freetown on 2nd July 2026. Officers drawn from Kailahun, Moyamba, Kambia, Koinadugu, and Falaba districts took part.
Facilitators said the program was designed to equip participants with both legal knowledge and practical skills required to manage SGBV cases in accordance with national laws and professional standards.
Key areas covered included the legal framework on SGBV offences, proper evidence gathering, case file documentation, prosecution techniques, and improved coordination between investigators and prosecutors.
To reinforce learning, participants took part in role-play exercises, scenario-based discussions, and group work modeled on real investigative and courtroom situations. The sessions aimed to sharpen their ability to handle cases from initial report through to prosecution.
Trainers also emphasized the need for a survivor-centered approach, calling for stronger collaboration between the police, FSU, health workers, legal professionals, and other state institutions. Officers were further urged to maintain high ethical standards and strictly follow due process to ensure thorough investigations, safeguard survivors’ rights, and increase conviction rates.
The training forms part of broader efforts to build institutional capacity and improve the criminal justice response to SGBV across Sierra Leone.
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